From Ruins to a Fortress

Revelations from the study of Haggai… The original readers of Haggai returned to Jerusalem from their 70 years in exile in Babylon. Their city was in ruins and they faced enemy opposition. They were in a state of fear and discouragement, and neglected their calling to rebuild the temple of the Lord for 16 years, focusing instead on rebuilding their own homes.

Just as Israel was commanded to rebuild the temple and continue to work, we are called to build our inner temple now that we are called temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Are we building our own homes, focusing on our self, on our comfort, on our security, or are we trusting God to help us to walk through the process of being build into a new creation in Christ so that our vision can expand beyond our self to a lost and dying world?

Think about the measurements of the temple given in Ezekiel. We are measured to Christ’s standards. Jesus is the perfect measurement. We fall so short of the measurements of His perfect standard. But this is the beauty we find in our conviction and ruins: CHRIST IN US, THE HOPE OF GLORY. We cannot pull off the impossible on our own, but HE can. When He fills us with Himself, we are empowered by His work of enabling grace in our life to live the impossible life of victorious Christianity we are called to. When we walk in repentance, humility, surrender, and obedience, Christ’s indwelling Spirit lives through us. In Christ, HIS righteousness becomes OUR righteousness so we don’t have to live in condemnation because we can’t reach the standard. That’s why He desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart – because in our weakness He is our strength – not by our might or strength but by HIS Spirit. We allow HIM, Christ in us, to be the standard we are called to. We access this life of victory be grace through faith, not by our work or willpower, not by our intellect or achievements, but by yielding to the Spirit of God at work in our hearts.

I used to be a pile of broken ruins.

But Jesus came into my life and demonstrated the power and beauty of restoration. His Spirit of grace enabled me to walk with Him through the process of fortification.

I was a useless pile of rubble.

But Jesus built me up so I can be strong. I entered into Christ and now I can be useful in being a shelter for those being hit by the enemy.

This is the beauty of the Gospel.

Rebuild the temple. Continue the work. Fear not and be strong because Holy Spirit is with those who believe and He is the Comforter and the one who empowers us to build up the temple, and then build walls of fortification to protect the work of Christ in our heart.

How ought we to live as the temple of the Holy Spirit? 

We are called to set apartness. As a child of God we must walk in holiness, that our fragrance would lead others to the beauty that is found in a life consecrated to Christ. We are temples of the Living God for His Spirit to dwell in. This has been His desire from the beginning of time: to dwell with His people so He can be glorified. He is glorified when we acknowledge and enjoy His presence. The Lamb who was slain receives the reward of His suffering when we walk in surrender, allowing His Spirit to possess us, allowing Jesus to sit on the throne of our life.

We are therefore called to keep our heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life (Prov. 4:23).

We are made to carry His nature. God has sealed us with His Holy Spirit.

He walks with us in the ruins so that He can build us. He builds us strong so we can be outward focused. We enter into Christ, who is our Strong Refuge, Mighty Fortress, and Dwelling Place. If our dwelling place is IN HIM, He dwells in US. Jesus says in John 15: Remain IN ME, and I will remain IN YOU. Abide in my love. God has always been about the rebuilding of the hearts of people, so that they can receive His blessing, because He loves to give good gifts. He loves to love. He is glorified when His people receive the gift of restoration He longs to give, because worship arises from the heart of those who encounter the beauty of His restoration. He wants to meet with us in our brokenness and bring restoration to our souls. His heart is for RESTORATION.