Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3 v 16 - 17; 1 Corinthians 6 v 9 - 20; 2 Corinthians 6
v 14 - 16; Ephesians 2 v 18 - 22.
A Temple is a place where God meets man, and is
worshipped by man. A place that is holy and set apart for God's purpose and
delight. 1 Corinthians 3 v 17 says:
"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
When you are born again and filled with the Holy Spirit,
God indwells you. This is His continual relationship with you within the temple
of YOU.
It is a sacred place that we must keep spotless and
undefiled. There is a list of things which must not be found in God's temple as
they do not belong to His kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 6 v 9 - 10 it says:
"Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, nor thieves, nor covettous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
No matter how many countries make laws for permitting gay
marriage and churches appoint gay clergy, they will plead in vain to enter in
at the gates of Heaven.
Idolatry has many forms and all of them block a soul from
Heaven. Do you with envy and jealousy covet (desire) what others have and spend
every cent to keep up with the Jones's? It is wrong on every level.
Are you an extortioner? One who uses threats and emotional
blackmail to extract every last cent through scams and schemes to enrich
yourself? Beware for your temple is defiled by it.
We want everything that Almighty God has promised us and
freely given but T's and C's apply. (Terms and Conditions). The above list is
what must be excluded from our temple to receive the blessings God promised to
the chidren of Abraham. That list of blessings appears in Deuteronomy 28 v 1 -
14, and very desirable it is too.
The Lord is making it very clear that there is a dividing
line between right and wrong. No matter what the world offers in exchange,
those promises are empty and are really temptations to lure and distract you
from your true relationship with God in your temple.
Jesus was tempted for 40 days by Satan in the wilderness
after His baptism. Hebrews says He was tempted in every way that a human can be
tempted yet He never sinned because He never yielded to that temptation.
He did this as a baptised human man to show us that water
baptism gives us the ability to resist Satan. We still have a free will but any
bad habit or wrongful lifestyle CAN be conquered by faith in Jesus and
obedience to Him.
Revelations 2 and 3 talks about those who are the
overcomers. They have overcome falseness of every kind. In chapter 3 v 12 Jesus
says:
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the
temple of My God...." Which means that the overcomer will have great power
and strength to hold others up to keep them from falling into the traps satan
has set.
So let us from today seek to improve our temple through
submission, obedience, love, kindness, truth and being spiritually correct. Let
our worship be pure and undefiled as we keep our bodies free of sinful
behaviour to the glory of God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we are a work in progress and not
perfect yet. We thank You for Your love and patience. We want our temple to be
a delight to You. Please help us make it so. In Jesus' name. Amen.