Good evening. Would you join
me tonight in the book of Zechariah? Zechariah chapter 1 and I'd like
to begin reading with verse 16 and read 16 and 17 We're going
to spend our time in verse 16 tonight Has to do with the stretched
line the stretched line in verse 16 of Zechariah chapter 1 we
read these words Therefore thus saith the Lord I am returned
to Jerusalem with mercies. My house shall be built in it,
saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth
upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the
Lord of hosts, My cities through prosperity shall be spread abroad,
and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion. and shall yet choose Jerusalem."
What comforting words we have here as the prophet Zechariah
shares with us some very interesting and blessed words concerning
the church. We notice here in this verse
of scripture the last part. Now last week we looked at that
I will return with mercies and we truly find that it is the
mercy of God that there is a spiritual Jerusalem, that there is a church.
that there is a people of God, that there is a people that God
has redeemed, that there is a people that God has regenerated, the
church of the living God. And it is foundation in the covenant
of grace. And as we read here in this passage
of scripture, a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
In other words, and a surveyor's line shall be stretched out over
Jerusalem or as someone else put it, and a measuring line
will be stretched out over Jerusalem. We find in the words that this
will be planned building. According to the architect's
drawing, scrupulously followed, a stretched line is called for. In a very careful and thorough
way is the description made through this architectural line. Now
we know God has a purpose in everything that he does he worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will It's what we
find in the scriptures and when it came to this line in reference
to the church we find that throughout the Old Testament there a mention
of a pattern or that there is a figure or a fashion that was
mentioned And I would direct your attention as we look at
this to the book of Exodus chapter 25. The book of Exodus chapter
25 we find the Lord is sharing with Moses with regard to the
tabernacle that is going to be built. The book of Exodus chapter
25. Now, God did not tell Moses,
you build it like you think it should be built. He did not tell
Moses, you build it like a pole you take among the people should
be built. He didn't turn it over to the people. He didn't turn
it over to Moses. He didn't turn it over to Aaron.
In fact, none of these things were turned over to human beings. We find, in fact, that as Moses
went up into the mount, God gave to him something very important,
and that was the architectural drawing, the architectural pattern
for the tabernacle. In Exodus chapter 25 and verse
9, the scriptures share this, According to all that I show
thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of
all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Now
this word pattern has to do with a plan or a form of construction,
a figure, the structure itself, the construction of that structure,
but more than everything it is the pattern or the plan the form
of construction that was used in this and we find that everything
that was around about or involved with the tabernacle God had given
to Moses a pattern for that there was an architectural drawing
that was shared with Moses that this this architectural drawing
was not just a a very quick setup After the fact but we find that
this architectural drawing was a drawing made in the council
halls of eternity It's part of the covenant of grace that this
would be like it is it was a reflection It was a type. It was a shadow. It was a picture of the redemption
that we have in Christ, but it's also a type and a shadow a picture
of the Redeemer and also of the redeemed this pattern or plan
or form or construction figure. as it was the pattern of the
tabernacle and it also brings out in that same chapter in the
book of exodus that in verse forty and look thou not excuse
me and look that thou make them after their pattern which was
shown thee in the mount moses went up to god and god in that
communication gave to him the pattern now whether moses came
down with drawings or whether it was put impressed upon his
mind I'm not sure, I haven't found out that, but I do know
this, that Moses came down off of that mount with the pattern,
and that pattern was used meticulously, very carefully was this pattern
used. It was scrupulously followed.
In fact, those who were to be used in making the instruments
of the tabernacle, the tabernacle proper, the color of the tabernacle,
the different color of the linen, the coverings of the tabernacle,
those people that were used to build that were given special,
a special heart, a special knowledge about building those things.
And so it was, a pattern was given and an architect gave the
pattern. It was an architectural drawing
of what it was to be in some capacity and it was built according
to that pattern. And when it was built, God was
pleased with it enough to come and dwell in there. If you'll
turn with me again here in the Old Testament to the book of
1st Chronicles. 1st Chronicles. In 1st Chronicles
chapter 28, we have another record here when it came to the building
of the temple. 1st Chronicles chapter 28, we
have these words recorded. First Chronicles chapter 28 and
verse 1. We have these words. And David
assembled all the princes of Israel. Excuse me, that's verse
11. I'm sorry. Turn with me to verse
11. Then David gave to Solomon his
son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and
the treasuries thereof, and the upper chambers thereof, and the
inner parlors thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat.
and the pattern of all that he had by the spirit of the courts
of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about,
of the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries in
dedicated things." We notice here that David was giving the
the pattern, or the plans, the architectural drawings of the
building of the temple. Now, David is a picture of Christ,
and we find that Moses is a picture of Christ also, bringing down
that pattern. We have the person, the picture,
we have the person who is the reality of the architect, and
he is the pattern. He is the blessing. He is the
builder, the master builder, and he is the builder of the
church. These things represented the church. These things represented
Christ. These things represented the
offerings, the offering of Christ, the offering of himself. They
also pictured that there was a ransom, there was a redeemer,
there was a redeemed, and these patterns were used throughout
the scriptures. Would you turn with me to the
book of Acts for just a moment? And then we're going to be in
the book of Hebrews the book of Acts chapter 7 in Acts chapter 7 we
have here The historian sharing with us some of the things that
took place in the Old Testament for the benefit of those Jews
that were hearing and Saul of Tarsus was one of them and when
Stephen got through with this he pointed out they didn't keep
the law They didn't honor God and as a result he was taken
out and he was stoned to death but notice here in chapter 7
verse 43 of the Book of Acts, he says, Yea, ye took up the
tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephraim, the
figures which ye made to worship them, and I will carry you away
beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle
of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking
unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that
he had seen in the mount. This is what we read in the Old
Testament. This pattern of the tabernacle
was a pattern given to Moses and they took up the tabernacle
of Moloch anyway. Their heart was not in it. They
didn't have a heart to believe. They didn't have eyes to see.
They didn't have ears to hear. So they went after everything.
But nonetheless, the pattern was there. It was given on the
mount. It was given to Moses. And it
was given to skilled laborers who built it. And it pictured
and shared with us many, many things about our Savior, the
Lord Jesus. In the book of Hebrews, this
is brought out again about this pattern, the book of Hebrews,
and there in chapter 8, Hebrews chapter 8, would you turn there
with me, Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 5, and it tells us here
in Hebrews chapter 8, There in verse 5 it says who serve unto
the example and shadow of heavenly things now the tabernacle and
the temple were a Shadow of heavenly things they were shadow of Christ.
They were shadow of redemption. They were a shadow of the redeemed
there were a shadow of the Redeemer they were these Shadows and yet
the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all those shadows all those
types all those pictures and the church is the fulfillment
of all of those pictures and all those types and all those
shadows it says here a shadow of heavenly things at Hebrews
chapter 8 and verse 5 a shadow of heavenly things as Moses was
admonished of God God gave him the instructions when he was
about to take make the tabernacle Four, see, saith he, that thou
make all things according to the pattern showed thee in the
mound. See, it was taken up. He's in
the presence of God. God gave him the pattern to make
the tabernacle. God gave the pattern to make
the temple. They all pictured works of Christ,
Christ himself, the church he was going to redeem, the redemption
process, the purpose of God. All those things are brought
out. there in that uh... passage of scripture and in the
building of the tabernacle and in the building of the temple
now here in the book of hebrews chapter eight we have the word
pattern which comes to us from the word typos we get type or
typewriter and several other words in our english language
from this and this is interesting but this same word is used over
in the book of john john chapter twenty would you turn there with
me john chapter twenty let's just see how this word was translated
by the translators in this translation John chapter 20 verse 25 John
chapter 20 verse 25 we have Stephen excuse me we have Thomas says this, but Thomas,
verse 24, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with
them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore
said unto him, We have seen the Lord, but he said unto them,
Except I shall put shall see in his hands the print of the
nails that word is the same word that we found over there type
or pattern the print of the nails and put my finger into the print
of the nails and trust thrust my hand into his side I will
not believe so he said unless I see the pattern unless I see
the typos unless I see the hands pierced unless I see the print
the print of the nails. So it's interesting that this
brings us right to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the marks left upon him enduring and despising the shame with
the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the
shame and is now set down at the right hand of the Father.
So Thomas said this and in that we see a wonderful picture here
as there was a pattern in heaven there was a pattern given on
the mount Now we have that pattern, that typos, found in the palms
of the Lord Jesus Christ. In a technical sense, the pattern
is conforming to that which must be built. We have the picture,
we have the architectural drawing out here. It's not the real.
The Lord is the real, the church is the real, but there is the
pattern, there is the picture, there is the drawing that was
given. In the book of Revelation, we
have the true architect mentioned here. We have the true one, the
book of Revelation, and there in chapter 3, Revelation chapter
3 and verse 14, this is to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. There are groups of people that
relish in the fact that this word has been translated beginning
here in this verse, and they attribute that the first created
being, the first creation was Jesus. Well, they never go back
to look at what this word meant in its original form. Here in
the book of Revelation chapter 3 and verse 14, and unto the
angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation
of God. Now that word beginning has a
specific meaning. We get the word architect from
there. The word is archi. It's the beginning
or the origin. He is the originator of all creation. He is the architect of all creation. He is the person or thing that
commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader.
That's what he is in this verse of scripture. It is shared with
us that he is the architect. of all creation, physical and
spiritual. When we look into the sky and
see the birds flying in their various shapes and forms, different
wing patterns, He's the architect of all of those birds. We look
out into the field and see the critters out there. He's the
architect of all creation. We see the different varieties
of trees, of grass. He's the architect. He's the
one that was the beginning or the origin. He's the architect
of all of these things. And as we see the various things
in God's creation, He's the architect of them. When it comes to spiritual
things, He's also the architect. He is the author and finisher
of our faith. He is the architect. Our faith
he's the architect of our salvation is the architect that gave the
plan of the temple and the tabernacle in the Old Testament and Moses
and David was given that but they were given that by God Just
as we find that the Lord Jesus is the author and finisher. He's
the beginning and end He's the creator of our faith. He is the architect of our faith
and he is the concluder of our faith and the person that commences. We get our word architect from
this word found in the book of Revelation chapter 3 and verse
14. The church has always been built
by the chief builder and he as we read there in the book of
Zechariah chapter 1 and verse 16 there is a line, an architect
line, a surveyor's line that shall be stretched over Jerusalem.
It is a meticulous line It's an architectural drawing scrupulously
followed. It is stretched line is called
for. In a very careful and thorough
way is this line stretched out over Jerusalem, just as we find
that there's great architectural knowledge and purpose in the
creation of the church. God has a purpose in the church.
He has a purpose. Every last person that will be
in the church. He has the the order of things
in the church He has the place for them and not one of them
will be lost He has a place for everyone and everyone has a place
and it is built in such a fashion that every living stone is is
able to touch the foundation stone, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The church has always been built by the chief builder. It was
in the covenant of grace that there would be a people set aside
in the covenant of grace whose names were written in the Lamb's
book of life from the covenant of grace, and that those people,
Jesus Christ would be a lamb slain for them. The good shepherd
giveth his life for the sheep. I came not to be a minister,
but to be a minister and be a ransom for many. The Lord Jesus Christ
had this in mind. It was in his purpose. It was
in the drawing of the covenant of grace. The great architect
had laid it out on purpose. This is exactly what is going
to take place. The line is drawn. The line is
stretched. It is stretched out in such a
way that those who come by can see that he had a purpose in
laying it out just exactly as it was. In the book of Matthew
chapter 16, we find these words with regard to the Lord Jesus. We have a physical building called
the temple. We have a physical building called
the tabernacle. Each one had been given the plans. They had given the pattern. Moses received it, a pattern,
in the mount. David received it as the Spirit
gave it to him, and passed it on to his son, Solomon, and had
it built according to the exact pattern, to the exact plan. It had the exact length, the
exact width, the exact height, the proportions were just as
he had purposed them the material was just as dictated in the covenant
or the pattern and we find here that the church goes on the same
purpose of God that there would be an eternal purpose and it
would be carried out exactly the building material would be
ordained of God the place of the building material would be
ordained of God and the person who would be Building it would
be ordained of God and that is our Savior the Lord Jesus So
here we find in the book of Matthew look there in the book of Matthew
chapter 16 and verse 18 and I say also unto thee that thou art
Peter and upon this rock Upon this rock, and that rock
is a large rock. This is speaking about the Lord
himself. Upon this rock, he never built
the church upon Peter. Peter was just a pebble. Peter
was just a small stone. But Jesus Christ is that great
stone, that rock. upon this rock i will build my
church and he said i will build my church has been building it
that the pattern was given in heaven in the Covenant of Grace,
the architectural drawing for it was given, the members or
the building material was given in the Covenant of Grace, and
the one that would build the church was given in the Covenant
of Grace. The Lord Jesus Christ would build his church out of
those that he redeemed, out of every kindred nation, people,
and tongue, and that he would do it according to the pattern,
the Covenant of Grace. Well we find here in Matthew
chapter 16 and verse 18, and I say also unto thee that thou
art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it. That's how permanent
this building will be. The tabernacle was removed. It was removed when the temple
came on the scene. That temple was destroyed. When
the Babylonians came down, they utterly destroyed the city, they
utterly destroyed the temple. time of Cyrus when the some of
the people were able to return they started building the temple
back and it was until Ezra arrived later that they finished that
temple and Then it was repaired by Herod and that was the temple
that we have during the time of the Lord Jesus Jesus said
himself that that temple would be destroyed there would not
be one stone left upon another and that's what was done in 80
70 when the Titus Caesar came down to Jerusalem he utterly
destroyed that purpose did God destroy that because there was
no longer any need for it that was just a type a shadow a picture
but the church is ever been in plan it has ever been fulfilled
we have those record recorded in the book of Hebrews chapter
11 they bow to the same Lord to the same Savior as we do in
the book of 1st Peter chapter 2 1st Peter chapter 2 we have
this said 1st Peter chapter 2 and verse 5 He also as lively stones are
built up a spiritual house now Where did the plans come from
the covenant of grace? Who designed the plans the architect
the Lord Jesus Christ in the covenant of grace the father
the son and the Holy Spirit the in the Covenant of Grace ordered
this just as it would be a spiritual house. It wasn't a conglomeration. It wasn't just thrown together.
It wasn't just an add-on of an add-on of an add-on. This was
a building set and purposed in the Covenant of Grace and has
been built over the centuries as he has saved his people from
their sins. They're brought into this assembly
of saints that bow before the feet of the Lord Jesus It says
there to build up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer
up spiritual sacrifices Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ The only
spiritual sacrifices that we can offer up are those sacrifices
which Jesus Christ is offered up on our behalf This is an orderly
building. This is a building that was the
architect was God and The architect was the godhead the architect
was the father the son of the Holy Spirit the Architectural
plans are laid out in the covenant of grace. I will lose none I
will lay down my life a ransom for many I will die in the place
of all my sheep and that's the purpose that the Lord Jesus had
in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 21 We have some thoughts here
with regard to the church. It says in Ephesians chapter
2 and verse 21 In whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord so
the the type the shadow the picture becomes a reality in the church
and It's fitly, the building is fitly framed together. It's
orderly, everything is in order. There is no rooms that are unused. There's no partitions that are
in the wrong place. To join closely together, to
frame together, that's what we have here. this fitly framed
together groweth unto the holy temple in the Lord so this is
a building of God this is a building of the Lord Abraham looked for
a city whose builder and maker was God he looked for that Jerusalem
that Jerusalem which is of from above and in the same book of
Ephesians in chapter 4 and there in verse 16 we have these words
recorded It says, for whom the whole body is fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth. There's such
a cohesion, such a joining together, to be put together, to be knit
together. That's what we have here. Everybody
agrees on these things. They agree on the blood and righteousness
of Christ as their only hope of salvation. They agree on the
sovereignty of God. He is the absolute ruler of all
things. He's the ruler of heaven and
earth. He's the ruler of the church. He is the purpose of
the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. And so it's fitly framed
together. It's compacted by that which
every joint supplieth. According to the effectual working
in the measure of every part Maketh increase of the body into
the edifying of itself in love. So it's it grows. It's It grows
but every step of growth is purposed God has purposed every one that
will be in that now when the last board or the last window
or the last piece of floor or the last partition or the last
Whatever the architectural drought drawing of God has When the last
piece of his building is complete Then it is key ready. It is ready for the return It
is ready for the return of the architect the Lord Jesus So we
just wait for the last board to be put in place We wait for
the last window to be put in we last we wait for the last
thing and to be added. Whatever it may be, however it
may fit, fitly framed together, we're waiting for that last.
Now when it will happen? Today or a thousand years. But
when that happens, the building will be complete and this will
be wrapped up like a tent. In the book of Colossians, we
have a couple of verses over there in the book of Colossians
that we'd like to look at as we think about this line going
out. It's on purpose. It's an architectural
line. It's a surveyor's line. It's
going out so that all the building will be fitly framed together.
It will have cohesion. It will not only look good, but
it will be good. It will redound to the glory
of God. The light of this building is
the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no need of a temple,
for He is the temple of this building. So here in the book
of Colossians chapter 2 and verse 2, chapter two verse two that
their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and
into all things riches of the full assurance of understanding
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of god in the father
and of christ hearts might be comforted being knit together
that's what a blessing that is we're knit together in the purpose
that jesus christ is the savior of the body There's no disagreement
there. We're not going to go to the
right hand or to the left hand on that. We're not going to get
into a discussion about whether Adam had a navel or not. We're
going to not get into a discussion where Cain got his wife, and
we're not going to get into a discussion what color Jesus' hair was while
he was on the earth. but the things that are important
the blood and righteousness of christ is all our hope all of
our salvation and that he is absolute monarch and king and
ruler of the church we'll get into discussion over that those
things are so vital they are so important and that same chapter
in verse fourteen it says here colossians chapter two excuse
me verse nineteen and not holding the head from which all the body,
by joints and bands having nourishment ministered and knit together,
Increases with the increase of God God is the grower of it He's
the one that adds to it and he does it in such a orderly fashion
They don't have to go back to the City Council and get permission
to do something add something to this building We just have
it It's laid out in the covenant of grace and it's on purpose
and it goes forth just as it was supposed to go forth The
temple the tabernacle in the Old Testament is gone The temple
in the Old Testament is gone, but the church continues on. He continues to build it. I build
my church. The gates of hell will not prevail
against it. There will be no seizures to
destroy it. There will be no Babylonian kings to destroy it.
It has a wall of fire about it. It's protected by Almighty God.
It's a garden enclosed, as we'll read in just a moment. There
is only one foundation to this building, and that's the Lord
Jesus Christ. There's only one builder, and
that's the Lord Jesus Christ. There's only one designer, and
that's the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the architect. There's
only one purchase price, and that's the blood of the Lamb,
the blood of the Lord, the blood of the Lord Jesus. and there's
only one covering the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. So we have
all this Jesus Christ had in mind when he set up in the covenant
of grace in the architectural eternity past designed what the
church would be. Now there's an interesting verse
over in the book of Isaiah that shares with us a lot about why
people are not interested in this fitly framed together, this
compactness over here in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah chapter
forty nine. Isaiah chapter forty nine and
verse twenty. We have these words recorded here about why people
are not interested in this building. By nature we're not interested
in this building. There's one reason that we're
not interested in it. It tells us in the latter part
of this verse the place is too straight for me. The place is
too confined for me. The place only has one place
to worship and that's at the feet of the Lord Jesus. That's
the only place the church does. There's just not a room, there's
not enough room for my works. There's just not enough room
for my doings. There's not enough room for my
casting out demons or doing all the things that the goats said
that they've done. It says here in the book of Isaiah chapter
49 and verse 20, the children which thou shall have After thou
hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, the place
is too straight for me. Give place to me that I may dwell. It's just too confined. There's just too much zoning
laws here. The building is just too straight. There's no room for any of my
human beliefs here because Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the
model over the church. That's the design Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. It's too narrow. It's too tight.
It's not loose. And we find the same word for
straight is used over here in the book of Numbers chapter 22.
Would you turn there with me? Numbers chapter 22. The Lord
did something with a donkey that we still talk about and that
is that donkey talked. And it's mentioned here in the
book of Numbers and also we find in other places. But in Numbers
chapter 22 and verse 26, it says, the angel of the Lord went further
and stood in a narrow place. That word narrow there is the
same word we find over in Isaiah chapter 49 and verse 20. where
it says it's too straight. It's just too narrow. The narrow
way is just too narrow. The straight way is just too
straight. And we hear that all the time
as people that have no interest in God, no interest in Christ, no interest in the gospel. It's
just that's just too straight. That's just too narrow. That's
just I can't abide by it. There's just not enough room
for my works in this and so it is. that the church truly is
a narrow place, for we are instructed to find the narrow way, the straight
way, the narrow way, and we can only find that as our eyes are
opened and we look to Christ. It is a narrow way. Christ is
the only way. There's none under the name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. There's only
one God and it is Him. In the book of the Song of Solomon,
would you turn there with me, the Song of Solomon? Song of
Solomon chapter 4. What a beautiful thing is said
here in the Song of Songs. The Song of Solomon chapter 4.
And there in verse 12. Song of Solomon chapter 4 and
verse 12. This beautiful song that has
so much figurative language about Christ and His Church. Christ
and His Church. How beautiful it is. This wonderful
Song of Songs. And in verse 12 of the fourth
chapter, it says, a garden enclosed is my sister. In other words,
you are my private garden, my treasure, my bride, a secluded
spring, a hidden fountain. Everything about you is private. I've put a fence about you. I've
put a hedge about you. It's an enclosed garden. It's
an enclosed spring. It's a fountain that's sealed.
It's protected. Garden locked is my sister, my
bride. A spring locked. A fountain sealed. This is what God put about the
church. It is a garden enclosed, is my
sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. What a
garden and what care the Lord has taken over his garden that
he would enclose it. He would protect it from those
coming in that might disrupt or destroy and he's protected
it from those that are in. That we would not be allured
by everything that comes along, we'd be protected by that. The
Lord speaks of His church so delightfully. It is protected. It is cared for. It is pruned
and cleaned. It's close. It's locked up. It's a line that is built deliberately. It's according to the architectural
drawing. It's according to the covenant
of grace. A line has gone out as to size,
as to the tongues that make up the church, the peoples, the
kindreds, the peoples, the tongues. And so, as we read over there,
a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. And we're so
thankful that God, in the covenant of grace, laid down the plan
that He wanted, the purpose that He intended. He's the chief architect. He's the chief builder. He's
the chief designer. He has made it all. And it is
so attractive to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
And to those who make up the church, those living stones that
are foundation and fastened to the foundation stone, it is a work
of grace. It is a work of mercy. It is
a work of God. Nobody gives any attribute to
themselves. They only attribute all things
to their Savior, to God, and to the Word of God, to the glory
of God, for the purpose of God. So, as we conclude this evening,
we're thankful that we can look here and see that God has intended
a purpose in the building of the Church, and it is exactly
according to pattern. It's exactly according to the
architectural drawing. It's exactly according to the
covenant of grace. He has chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world. It's according to his eternal
purpose. And for this, we are thankful.
May God bless you. Amen.