Golden Pillar Class Study, teacher Rick Coleman.
What is in a name? We remember Brother Bill Cornelison singing “Sweet Jesus” (by Doris Akers). Some of the lyrics are: “There’s a name that’s dear to me, lifted me from misery, brought me out of sin and shame, how I love that precious name. It’s grows sweeter, everyday. Knowing Jesus really pays, Oh how I love that man, From Galilee. Chorus: Sweet Jesus – fellowship divine, Sweet Jesus – I’m His and He is mine, Sweet Jesus – a precious friend is He, Sweet Jesus.”
I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
It means something when people say, the Unitied States of America. That’s a country where people fought and died for freedom. George Washington was our first major leader. Abraham Lincoln is an important name. There’s something meaningful about those names. The Church of God means something to us. Paul addressed letters to the Church of God. A name that has meaning to us is the Golden Pillars. That’s the name of our class. Years ago Sister Frankie Cowsert came up with the name. A pillar is a tall structure used in a building for support to hold something up. A pillar is a person regarded as reliably providing essential support in a community. Paul likened the church to the pillar and ground of the truth. We’re a pillar of the church on the ground or foundation of Jesus, standing on Jesus the rock, on the truth, on the word of God. Jesus said he would make us a pillar in the temple of God if we overcome.
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
We overcome as pillars when we face the world of tribulation. We’re surrounded by tribulation but we’re overcoming as we face tribulation. Some aren’t attending church because they didn’t want to fight so they could overcome tribulation. Jesus said he gave power over all the power of the enemy. In the psalms David prayed for power to overcome the enemy.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Paul said to overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
John was confident the young men had overcome the wicked one. We have power to overcome the wicked one because God changed us.
I John 2:13-14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
We overcome the world by the Spirit of God in us.
I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We’re born again and pillars in the Church of God so we have victory over the evil of the world. We have victory over unbelief and doubt by faith and believing.
I John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The golden part of Golden Pillars means we’re precious to God because he loves us. Golden pillars are the elect and have been tried by the fire. The trial of our faith is more precious that gold that perishes.
I Peter 1:1-9 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace…and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus…according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus…To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice…for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire…found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus…having not seen, ye love…now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable…Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
We’re like the precious stones in the temple that can stand the fire.
Revelation 21:19-22 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates…every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as…transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple…
As Golden Pillars we don’t want to be wood, hay, and stubble that’s consumed by the fire. We have to purge ourselves of things that don’t bring honor and stand on the firm foundation to hold up the truth for all to see. We may not be able to do what we used to do as older saints, but we can live right. We’re an example to those who look on because many of us have been saved a long time. As the Church of God, we’re also the mother who is the bride of Christ, the bridegroom. The mother nurtures and encourages the new babes in Christ.
Sister Diana Licon said the first temple of Solomon had two pillars of brass at the front. The temple was up on a hill so everyone saw when the sun hit the pillars. It caused people to be in awe of what they saw and they were drawn to come worship like to a beacon. We’re like a butterfly that has eyes in front so they don’t see how beautiful their wings are. Sometimes people are drawn to the beauty of the saints of God after He has cleaned them up to shine as Golden Pillars.
I Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use…prepared unto every good work.