Ye Are The Temple Of God

In the Old Testament, God had a temple for His people (1st KINGS 6:1, 8:17-20). The Bible says "The Lord is in His holy temple" (PSALM 11:4).

In the New Testament, God has a people for His temple! "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1st CORINTHIANS 3:16-17).

And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” (2nd CORINTHIANS 6:16-17).

Jesus cleansed the temple.
Then Jesus went into the temple and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves” (MATTHEW 21:12-13; MARK 11:15-17).

APPLICATION
(1) GOD'S TEMPLE IS HOLY!
God's Spirit dwells inside the Christian (ROMANS 8:9-11). God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (ACTS 2:38, 5:32). We are not to "quench" the Spirit! (The word for "quench" was used of putting out a fire, and the thought is that the child of God should not put out the sacred fire within. The cares, riches and pleasures of life choke out the word and quench the Spirit. The blessed fire can be put out by the cold drizzle of worldliness, by the heavy blanket of selfishness, or by the companionship of evil people.)

God destroys those who destroy and defile His temple. As God's children, we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. We are not to be conformed to this world, but transformed (ROMANS 12:1-2). This is why we are to "Come out from from among them and be seperate!" As it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy" (1st PETER 1:16).

(2) YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD!
Of all the beautiful metaphors of God's church such as the bride of Christ, the vineyard of the Lord, the household of God, the pillar and ground of the truth, the spiritual body of Christ, and the flock of Christ, none is more beautiful or intriguing than "The Temple of God."

God dwells in us, walks with us, and is a loving Father to us. And God knows what is best for His people! There is no agreement with the temple of God and idols. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters" (MATTHEW 6:24). In the temple, we are called to serve the Lord of Glory!

(3) GOD'S HOUSE IS A HOUSE OF PRAYER!
Jesus said His Father's house was a house of prayer. And we are to be a people of prayer! That a weak human being can get the listening ear of the creator is amazing!

There are 5 simple laws of prayer that can guide every Christian.

A) We must pray with a genuine/sincere faith. Ask God for wisdom (JAMES 1:5).
B) Pray in Jesus' name (EPHESIANS 5:18-20).
C) To get our prayers to heaven, they must be done in an unselfish manner (JAMES 4:3).
D) As God's people, we must have an obedient spirit (1st PETER 3:11-12). (For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.)
E) Pray according to His will (1st JOHN 5:14).

Pray in faith, in Jesus name, unselfishly, obediently! Sometimes are prayers are not answered because God knows best. One thing is for sure; we are God's temple and our heavenly Father is listening to His people!

Author Unknown

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