3.3. EACH LOCAL COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS YIELDED TO THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS

"Grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21 ). A true local church is made up of individual believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. "Holy temple". What a descriptive term for the corporate fellowship of the believers in a suburb, town or city. Only such coming together "in the Lord" constitutes a "holy temple". As we look closer at the term we shall see that accepting the Lordship of Jesus is essential to becoming His temple. Being His holy temple implies total dedication to HIS Lordship.

The temple at Jerusalem was said by Jesus to be "My Father's house" (John 2:16 ), and therefore holy, that is, set apart for God. The living stones of the Church make a holy temple because they are set apart to God. The Church is:

Ephesians 2:10 "... His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

In the local church, God has a vehicle through which to perform His good plans to bless the city. Now here is a remarkable concept. Normally a "temple" is thought of as a building in which religious ceremony and services are conducted. The Scripture before us presents a living, moving holy temple made up of people walking in "good works" planned by God. A town, suburb or city cannot remain unchanged when such a movement of the Lord is among them, through the ministry of a walking temple.

When all the members of a local holy temple are living, cleansed, dedicated lives, they become,

2 Timothy 2:21 "... a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."

Acceptance of His Lordship means dedication to kingdom vision, which is a vision embracing the Lord's purposes for community, country and continent. The true Church has unlimited world vision motivated by a God who loves the world (John 3:16 ), and a commission that is worldwide (Matthew 28:18 ).

Our dedication to the Lord, as a local holy temple, must be full and complete. It is not the intention of the Lord that any local holy temple degenerate into a self-satisfied, inward-looking group. That is the devil's tactic, who is a robber and who would, by the exclusive club mentality, rob the local church of its vitality and usefulness, and bring it into sleeping death. The Lord's plan is to have a dedicated holy temple in which He can demonstrate the wonder and delight of kingdom life, and bring the benefits of the kingdom flow of good works into the community at large.

Being a holy temple calls for total dedication to His Lordship, a dedication that issues in practical service and good works. There are many practical kinds of service we can get involved in and so walk in good works. For example:

	Feeding and clothing the needy.
	Visiting people that are old and confined to their homes.
	Visiting the sick in hospital.
	Fostering children of broken homes.
	Visiting old peoples homes and taking items they need.
	Making your home a meeting place where people can be counselled and receive help.

No doubt our dedication as a holy temple will find expression in other good works which the Lord has prepared for us. Grow into a holy temple in the Lord.