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Temple Builders Posts
Author Archives: John Robert Lucas
The Bookends of Redemption
The Bible is a love story that threads redemption from Genesis to Revelation, focusing Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, and the central figure of this divine romance. Truly we are as a bride, even the city of God, adorned in the radiance of glory and every precious stone. Even more, the scriptures end with the bride being clothed in crystal clear walls of jasper, seventy-two yards high. The beauty of the Lord is beyond our imagination, but the bride’s Husband’s brilliance is the only thing one will see outside the city. In all this, do we understand where God STARTS redemption? Do we understand what it took for God to get us to New Jerusalem?
If redemption is a thread going through the entire Bible, it is the wisdom of God to find out where that thread started, and what seed truth surrounds that first occurrence. In doing so, we peer into (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Personal Blog
Grace Gone Too Far – Repentance De-emphasized
Grace doctrines that go too far are nothing new. In the early church they were rampant, alongside the other extreme: law doctrines. So it’s grace versus law today, even as back in the New Testament. Paul agonized over his letters to the church, always dealing with one of these issues, or even both.
I consider myself a grace minister, and a minister of the finished work of Christ. Other ministers calling themselves grace and finished work ministers are now spreading a bit of leaven with this message in a way that we must differentiate the error.
So, what am I seeing that is causing the most recent stir: an article “3 Reasons Why I Don’t Preach on Repentance” by Paul Ellis.
Mr. Ellis takes the approach in his article that he is the new order of grace ministry and those teaching contrary are religious. His argument is that unbelievers and Christians should not turn from (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Personal Blog
Principles of Interpretation
The following is a set of principles that will assist any student or teacher in understanding scripture better. One of the core messages of Temple Builders is that everyone should learn to trust their relationship with the Holy Spirit as Teacher. Additionally, never allow any teacher to bully you with their interpretation. The Holy Spirit guides you gently into truth, and never force feeds you truth. If you are pressured by the teacher, it may be an indication that you should judge that message.
As you learn this set of principles, it will help you to discern better when you hear doctrinal controversies. The largest benefit I think you will notice is less confusion and more confidence to disagree with interpretations that do not bear witness, and that disregard God’s principles and ways.
We live in a day when teachers are circulating interpretations such as no literal hell/lake of fire, that the church is not the (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Facebook Reposts, Personal Blog
The 3 Ds to get to the next level: Decision, Discipline, and Diet
Occasionally, the Lord will give me a clear word—a word that I am usually not too pleased to get, “Step it up son.” This means He is pushing me up to the next level of the mountain, when I was comfortable at the altitude that I had already attained. For all of us, there is a time in our walk where God urges us up to the next level. We can resist, and many times life will go on as normal, as if nothing happened. The one thing you can count on is, if you are walking close to Jesus, you will not escape a push, whether gentle prompting or forceful compelling, to come up higher.
Recently, my cardiologist strongly suggested I give up caffeine. I took the advice of the doctor and decided to give up caffeine. To get to the next level of good health for me, this was needed. But the (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Personal Blog
Kidron – The Divide
In the Old Testament, there was a brook outside of Jerusalem called Kidron. This is the brook that was used to discard the idols whenever a righteous king was in office. It was also set as a boundary marker by King David to confine Shimei as part of his sentence for doing evil to God’s anointed.
Everything on the Jerusalem side of Kidron represents the kingdom of Light. Everything on the other side is darkness, and is full of idols.
The word “Kidron” means, “dusk.” Dusk is where light ends and darkness begins. Shimei did not heed the sentence and died.
We must rid our life of idols and clean up our own Jerusalem, for we are eternal Jerusalem and Kidron is the dividing line! Kidron is the dividing line where we DEAL WITH these idols in our heart.
Part of TRUE MINISTRY is about division. It shows you the idols, it contrasts the dark (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Prophetic Ministry
Rethinking Church: 3 Steps to Changing Church Gatherings
Paradigm shifts and sometimes radical changes are the norm for God, but we tend to stay within comfortable spheres of stability and predictability. Further, when we start tampering with the idea of rethinking how it is we do church, we not only find great resistance, we can expect an avalanche of criticism. Over my 32 years of attending and visiting many churches, little seems to change; yet, I also see at times a pendulum swing to the opposite extreme: leadership changing church just for the sake of changing it.
When you look at the business model changes of HP and Netflix of recent weeks, you see that they did the right thing in wanting to change a business model that was doomed to lose corporate revenue and profitability. What these 2 examples failed to consider is that change should be well thought out and must be truly strategic, with mapped out goals, (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Personal Blog
What is the “Finished Work” message?
In regards to types of christian teachings, we tend to coin a new phrase to differentiate ourselves from something that is more commonly accepted. In this case, the term “message of the finished work.” Sometimes the new phrase is just a re-branding of the same old thing. At other times, it is a new perspective, but essentially the same principle or doctrine. Yet, there are times when a teaching will add something that has never been widely taught, or has been misunderstood. Sometimes the teaching will radically reinterpret scripture to mean something totally different than how the modern church understands it. So, when one says “I teach the finished work message, or the finished work of Christ message”, it can mean lots of different things.
It is best to start a definition by establishing common denominators. For this term, the following seems to be widely agreed about the cross:
Jesus perfectly accomplished His work Jesus left nothing undone or (John Robert Lucas)Read More»
Posted in Personal Blog
Letter B: Types and Shadows
God has woven throughout the Bible numerous types, shadows, and symbols. Proper and thorough interpretation of scripture is lost without understanding the meaning of these symbols. To neglect this field of study will lose the richness of God’s word, and the many different apsects of who Jesus is, and the destiny of His church. The letter ‘B’ is defined with primary meanings.
1. BAAL
PRIMARY MEANING: False gods, idols.
KEY SCRIPTURES: Judg. 2:13; I Kg. 18:19-40; 2 Kg. 10:18-28.
BASIC INFORMATION: Baal is the name of a fertility and nature god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. “Baal,” transliterated from the Hebrew “ba’ al” (Strong’s #1167), means “a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner,” and has also been translated as “lord, possessor, owner, guardian.” The word could be used as a title for any person or god considered to be a lord or master, but became identified with various regional gods that were thought (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Prophetic Ministry
Letter A: Types and Shadows
God has woven throughout the Bible numerous types, shadows, and symbols. Proper and thorough interpretation of scripture is lost without understanding the meaning of these symbols. To neglect this field of study will lose the richness of God’s word, and the many different apsects of who Jesus is, and the destiny of His church. The letter ‘A’ is defined with primary meanings.
1. AARON
PRIMARY MEANING: The ministry of the High Priest.
KEY SCRIPTURES: Ex. 4, 28-29; Mic. 6:4; Heb. 5-7.
BASIC INFORMATION: Aaron, the older brother of Moses (from the tribe of Levi), was first high priest of the Hebrew nation. “Aaron” is from the Hebrew “‘Aharown” (Strong’s #175), which is of uncertain derivation. Some have translated “Aaron” to mean “illumined, enlightener, mountaineer (very lofty), high.” In the exodus from Egyptian bondage, Aaron was chosen by God as Moses’ official spokesman. Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. At his death, Aaron’s (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Prophetic Ministry
Shewbread/Presence Bread
Exodus 25:30 -And you shall set the showbread (the bread of the Presence) on the table before Me always.
Leviticus 24: 5-9 – And you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake [of the showbread or bread of the Presence]. And you shall set them in two rows, six in a row, upon the table of pure gold before the Lord. You shall put pure frankincense [in a bowl or spoon] beside each row, that it may be with the bread as a memorial portion, an offering to be made by fire to the Lord.Every Sabbath day Aaron shall set the showbread in order before the Lord continually; it is on behalf of the Israelites, an everlasting covenant. And the bread shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a sacred place, for it (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Tabernacle of Moses
The Table of Shewbread
Ex 25:23-29 and 37:10-16: The wooden table is a representation of Christ. Covered in Gold, it reminds us of his everlasting majesty. He became man for us, but kept his deity so he could be our Eternal Life. Its measurement of one cubit wide represents unity, while its two cubits long represents fellowship, both of which stand for the union in Christ, while its height of 1 1/2 cubits suggest the Trinity.
All of this ties into the fact that tables remind of fellowship, which is dependent on unity and involves the Trinity. As Christians, we fellowship together at the table with Jesus Christ at the New Testament Communion table.
The table is topped by Golden crown, standing in for jealousy exclusively held for God, since he is the king of kings, the one true God. In addition, the crown stands for His power and ability to protect his children, which is (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Tabernacle of Moses
The Altar
Ex. 27:1–2 – And make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits square and three cubits high [within reach of all]. Make horns for it on its four corners; they shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.
The altar simply represents the Cross. It was the only place sacrifices could be offered and God made sure to specify every detail of its design. God chose the location of the altar, what was to be sacrificed there, the material it was made out of, and the size of it. Like the rest of the Tabernacle, everything making the altar also had symbolism in the Kingdom of God.
The Brazen Altar, aka Bronze
The wood is humanity, reminding us that Christ became man to experience our pain, as well as to give his life in exchange for ours. The length and width, which makes a square, typifies that (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in Tabernacle of Moses
Paul Was Sick: The Job Kind of Affliction 10
GAL 4:13–14 – But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
We see Paul revealing that he was bodily afflicted. Because of this affliction Paul remained at Galatia to father them in the faith. God allowed a bodily affliction to exist in this man of faith for a purpose: God wanted Paul to stay at Galatia, doing His will—the illness was used as a course-changer.
Did the Galatians look down on Paul for having this bodily affliction? Not at all. In fact, Paul commends them. For this bodily affliction was a burden to the Galatian church yet they received him as an angel of God, and as Christ (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
The Purpose of Bodily Affliction: The Job Kind of Affliction 9
One subject we touched on but did not complete was the topic of bodily affliction. Before completing the topic of affliction, it is needful to complete the topic of bodily affliction. May you find direction in your course after reading this topic.
First…for balance sake…the Holy Spirit does not always prompt you to even ask why—why am I sick—why have You not healed me yet? Sometimes you need to rest in the fact that He is Lord over your body and will manage your body as He sees fit. Otherwise, you may be disrupting the fruit of peace in your life, causing great stress and unrest. The season that you are ill may simply be a summer of affliction, yielding great fruit, that is, if you respond correctly.
I think that this “healing” controversy reveals the difference between those seeking a Spirit-led life and ones who are bound by law. For those (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Sow to the Spirit: The Job Kind of Affliction 8
God reveals His will in affliction. It is in affliction we have revelation of our own pride. It is in affliction we see the old man, the natural man. It is in affliction we can appropriate, make relevant, and make applicable the truth of us being dead to sin and alive to God. Now, we can reckon ourselves dead to it. We can consider ourselves freed from the slavery of our own pride. Why? Because now we see it. If you can see it, you can walk in it. You are in Him, Whom all the fullness of the Godhead mightily dwells; you must see this fact, even as you see your own pride.
GALATIANS 6:8–9 – For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
The Root Purpose of Affliction: The Job Kind of Affliction 7
Elihu says:
JOB 33:13 – Why do you contend against God? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He that does them]. (The Amplified Bible)
Job contended and judged God as being unfair instead of listening to His voice. That voice causes us to understand our affliction. When we understand our affliction, we see ourselves as God sees us. When we see ourselves, we can respond to God in repentance of our vile pride, accepting His grace for true deliverance; that is, deliverance from ourselves. Even as Job was self-righteous, God shows us our self-righteousness; if we resist Him, we remain self-righteous. We are guilty of having measured our own level of righteousness against a criterion that is not God, and then we are stubborn to change it.
JOB 33:14–17 – For God [does reveal His will; He] (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Elihu the Prophet: The Job Kind of Affliction 6
After Job and his three friends concluded their unprofitable discourse, we see God’s man come on the scene. God loves us so much that He sends a true messenger of God. Elihu means God of Him. Elihu definitely belongs to God, and God has much to say through Elihu the prophet.
Elihu begins by stating the problem with Job, “He justified himself instead of God.” Self-justification is dangerous because we justify our motives instead of seeking the motives of God. We become right in our own eyes. We see ourselves as victims, not deserving of affliction because we have done right. May we fear and tremble in His holy presence, never degrading to this place of blindness. We can use scripture to justify ourselves. We can use accomplishments done in Jesus’ Name to justify ourselves as well. If this is how we respond, God responds, “give them up to their own (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Job’s Discourse: The Job Kind of Affliction 5
Next, Job’s three friends approach Job, mourning with him. In Job, Chapter 3, we have the start of four dialogues. Job and his three friends take turns in an unprofitable discussion. The difficulty in reading these passages is that all four of them were wrong and yet made many true statements; in fact, the Apostle Paul quotes a saying of one of the three friends as a New Testament truth. Most important, though, a truth in these dialogues gives revelation of the true condition of Job’s heart.
Sometimes we remain confused because all the dialogues around us are wrong yet contain an element of truth. Christians take sides on issues and both sides are many times in error but both contain an element of truth. The result is unprofitable.
Job opens his mouth in chapter 3, revealing his response to this terrible affliction. In this study our focus will be God’s focus—a (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Job’s Response: The Job Kind of Affliction 4
Job lost all of His possessions and His children. What was his response? He worshiped God and sinned not! Wow! Could we have passed this test in such a way? We must be as Job, dead to things and submitting our children to God; both belong to Him. God was not finished, though. Job has yet to come to the end of himself. God designs affliction to see into the deep places of your heart. We become afflicted and we do everything but place our heart on God’s altar saying, “If there is any wicked thing in me, please show me.”
JOB 2:7–10 – Then Satan…smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself….Then his wife said to him, “…Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “…Shall we indeed accept good from God (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Job’s Unrighteousness: The Job Kind of Affliction 3
JOB 1:4–5 – His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day (birthday party), and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and conse-crate them, rising up early in the morning and offer-ing burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Before affliction came, we find a problem. Scripture mentions three times that Job’s children were feasting and drinking (inferring carousing and drunkenness). God goes out of His way to mention that disaster occurs on the day of this feasting. Job believed in his heart that they were habitually in sin. Scripture is given by inspiration of God; God includes these events for a (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Job’s Problem: The Job Kind of Affliction 2
At the onset of reading Job, God tells us that Job was perfect. I have heard countless ministers describe Job as walking without iniquity, without blemish. That would put Job in the category of the previous examples we observed: Daniel, the three Hebrews, and Paul. The Holy Spirit taught me to the contrary. This presented me with a controversy. These types of controversies prove the lack of unity in doctrine. For me the challenge is to teach the entire body of Christ that Job was not perfect when the King James Version says he was perfect. God has the answer.
Every controversy in scripture is a controversy in our heart. With God there are no controversies. A controversy exists because we fail to see Him—we fail to learn His ways—we approach scripture as attorneys, technically presenting a case without the Holy Spirit Teacher present. These controversies are frequent because we do (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
The Job Kind of Affliction: Introduction
Job is the most popular example of affliction discussed by the church world. The Book of Job is solely dedicated to the severe tribulation of a man who seemingly did nothing wrong. Many of us feel we are not deserving of our current affliction, so Job becomes our favorite example for surviving while in pain. In doing this we miss a very important message God is communicating to the church.
It can be hard for us to identify with Daniel, Paul, and other perfect examples who suffered for righteousness sake. These examples are great in giving us hope of where we can be if we allow His grace to operate in our life. These righteous examples reveal to us the finishing line of the race we are now running. They show God’s maturing process ending in manifesting purity and righteousness. These men represent to us: if we walk in Him, we will show (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Old Testament Suffering: The Purpose of Affliction 3
In the Old Testament we see examples of suffering that encourage and admonish us. First, let us examine one that encourages—Daniel and the three Hebrews: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Throughout scripture we see many impurities resulting in judgment or suffering. We also observe suffering upon men of God for preparation. God must prepare them to be righteous. It does not matter to God if they are already more righteous than others around them. He measures righteousness according to His own righteousness; in addition, He appraises completion on the hope within His heart.
We also observe those who are afflicted because they are mature; afflicted because they completed the course set before them. For example, Paul finished his course, offering up his own physical life as a sacrifice, thus following in the steps of Jesus. Jesus said, no man takes my life—I offer it up. Paul followed Jesus and walked in His (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
Healer of Your Broken Heart: The Purpose of Affliction 2
We must bear patiently tribulation we receive for acting outside of Jesus. We must endure even more tribulation if we choose Jesus. The first one everyone faces; however, we can avoid the second one by not choosing Jesus. You must discern which one you are facing. Nevertheless, if we suffer righteously, we can console others as they suffer for doing right.
Even as God has a purpose for affliction, Satan also has his purpose for affliction. Remember: Satan afflicts you because you are God’s vehicle to manifest love in this earth. Each time something happens to you, to break your heart, it is because Satan hates God, and he hates that which is capable of manifesting God. He will do his utmost to afflict you, and he will use anyone at his disposal to do it. If he can break your heart, he renders you incapable of loving with Jesus’ love. (John Robert Lucas)
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Posted in The High Calling
