“engineered by His design …” (Eph. 2:10a, MB)
In order to build the third, spiritual temple, a temple of people (Rev. 21:3), the mantle of Zerubbabel is indispensable. We have already dealt with twelve characteristics of this corporate spirit. The aim of the spirit of Zerubbabel is primarily to empower believers in the Bride of Christ, thus, you and I, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).
This word, ministry, is a word with a very wide range of meanings. It is interesting that this word in the Old Testament is often used in the context of the work that needs to be done to the temple or tabernacle (see for instance Num. 3:7 and 2 Chr. 8:14)! In this context ministry first and foremost points to the assignment given by God, as it is neatly spelled out in Hag. 1:8: “’Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple …’” The ministry that each individual within the Bride should be involved in, is not necessarily restricted to just doing good works (Matt. 5:16; Rom. 2:7; 1 Tim. 2:10; 5:25; 6:18; Tit. 2:7 & 14; 3:8 & 14; Heb. 10:24; 1 Pet. 2:12), but instead refers to very specific works involving the raising up of the temple/Body of Christ. Each member of the Bride has this responsibility. Therefore the Scripture in Haggai quoted above makes it clear:
- “Go up to the mountains” – a call to become part of the Bride by doing what the Bride is called to do (Heb. 12:22), take up the challenge;
- “bring wood” – throughout Scripture wood points to flesh/body (Jer. 5:14; Lam. 4:8), in other words the Bride is encouraged here “that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1), and
- “build the temple …” – there are specific things that you must do, that contribute to the building of God, in the Spirit. This “work” is more in accordance with what is referred to in Eph. 2:10: “For we are His workmanship [poema = poem], created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” These good works were decided on, in and by God, before time, prepared specifically for you, are uniquely your own, which can only be brought to being in the Bride by you. “We are engineered by His design.” (Eph. 2:10, MB). Selah!
Very few people who are part of the Bride know what they must DO! We are to a great extent modelled according to what we need to be, what our identity in Christ is, but what is lacking is the pragmatics of good works.
- Selah: What are you doing to fulfil your calling?
- Read: 33; Jos. 8; Prov. 21.
- Memorise: 33:15 (very important for this teaching!)
