The Miracle of the Cedar – Construction Update
Our church and ministry building was designed and completed in 2004. We have had the same banners, lighting, and background for over 20 years. Then about 120 days ago, God spoke to me concerning upgrading our ministry building and equipment, said, “Walk in Faith, and get it done!”
Once construction renovations were underway in January 2025, with our giant 26’ wide LED viewing screen, (now completed), I heard from God again. I was prompted by the Spirit of God, to cover three quarters of our sanctuary in cedar wood. After negotiations with several western red cedar suppliers, we purchased about half the cedar that it would take to panel three sides of the sanctuary. That 1st shipment of cedar is at this writing, nearly completely installed. (see above)
What I did not know was the importance of Cedar in the construction of the Temple by Solomon. Just after this part shown here was completed, the Holy Spirit posed to me with a question similar to this;
“Do you understand why I told you to panel the sanctuary with cedar?” I didn’t. What I discovered within hours of that question, concerning cedar in the Bible, surprised and blessed me.
The word cedar and cedars occur 77 times in the NASU, and 71 times in the KJV. The first usage of cedar found in the Bible is in Leviticus, where God gives the priests the recipe to cleanse someone from the disease of leprosy. God had cedar used in the ritual cleansing of harmful diseases!
The next series of mentions of cedar wood begins with the king in 1 Chronicles 17:1, “David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of (the Lord) Yahweh is under curtains.”
The best cedar was from Lebanon and could grow up to 120 feet. The smell of cedar wood is delightful to the senses. Hiram king of Tyre ruled there, and David’s son Solomon negotiated a deal with Hiram for as much cedar as he would need to build the temple. In 1 Kings 6:10-20 we find more about how Solomon used cedar in the building of the temple.
“He also built the stories against the whole house, each five cubits high; and they were fastened to the house with timbers of cedar…Then he built the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; …on the rear part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling; he built them for it on the inside as an inner sanctuary, even as the most holy place…There was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen…He also overlaid the altar with cedar.”
God was so highly motivated to have His house built inside and out with the cedars of Lebanon, that His very first sanctuary was predominately constructed using cedar wood. And here we find ourselves paneling our sanctuary with cedar too! I understand now why God spoke to me to panel our holy of holies (the sanctuary) with cedar wood. We are about half done.
To complete the sanctuary with cedar, I still need your help. And that’s not all. We also will upgrade all of our sanctuary lighting, since that too is over 20 years old.
Isaiah 60:13 says,
“The glory of (the) Lebanon (Cedar) will come to you, the juniper, the box tree and the cypress together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I shall make the place of My feet glorious.”
Because of your generous support we are progressing with the construction upgrades that God has asked of me. The large screen is completed and installed, with half of the western red cedar installed. Look at how that has changed how we appear to the public, online and on television.
This is what we have renovated and updated in just the last 60 days with your help:
- The first of two led screens is now installed!
- The hallway carpets have been replaced with vinyl wood flooring.
- About half of the western red cedar is completed.
- An order is in the works for a 2nd led screen.
The improvements are already giving a dynamic viewing change from before! With all the new stations that we have recently gone on, this represents our God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the best possible light.
By God’s grace we are doing all these things for the Kingdom, for Souls, and for growing up the Saints!
We are well on our way! Your participation is still needed to assist us in reaching that goal. Would you consider backing our construction projects to change our visuals, our lighting, and other technical upgrades? Please prayerfully consider how you can help.
I personally want to thank every one of you who has supported me in this great end-time harvest!
I am praying for you daily!
Shalom
Pastor David Gonzalez
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