We the Temple of God

Introduction

If we are to believe God has sent the Holy Spirit, then we must also know and understand that He sends His Spirit to those whom He loves and chosen to represent Him upon the earth. As ambassadors in this earth, we bear with us the very answer and power to eternal life. It is therefore imperative that the vessel that the Spirit of God indwells is set apart.

I recently heard a sermon from an English pastor who likened the re-building of the temple walls by Nehemiah, after the captivity in Babylon of the Israelite's, as to how we are to build the church. At face value this could be seen as a sincere call for all believers to build their lives on holiness and commitment to God's word. Yet the pastor went down the track of seeing the local church as the body of Christ. This is a common way in which clergy today refer to the body of Christ, yet this is not God's view of the body.

The body of Christ are the believers that are being built up, with Christ as the head and the cornerstone, to a glorious and marvellous temple that God's Spirit desires to invade when we live holy and righteous lives.

Called to Posses God’s Spirit

·         Paul & Peter call us temples of the Holy Spirit; 1Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2Cor 6:16; Eph 2:20-22; 1Pet 2:5

·         God breathed His Spirit into us at creation and again promised at Pentecost; Gen 2:7; Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9; 1Jn 2:27

A Holy Priesthood

·         God’s intention was for a holy priesthood; Ex 19:6; 1Pet 2:9

·         Melchizedek was the first example of that priesthood Gen 14:18-20

·         The role of the priests was intercession likened unto Christ today; Rom 8:34; 1Jn 2:20-27

·         Jesus was born into that line, a priest, prophet & King like Melchizedek; Heb 7:3

• We as followers of Christ with a spirit of sonship are called into that same line and priesthood

The Temple was a shadow of things in heaven but also of God’s people

·         Like the temple in Jerusalem we are meant to posses or be filled with God’s presence & Spirit see 2Chron 5:14; 7:1; Acts 2:4.

·         The temple is a shadow of things in heaven & is seen as a symbol or type of Jesus’ own body; Heb 3; Acts 7:44-50; John 2:13-22

·         If we are meant to possess God’s Spirit then we must also ensure we make room for Him and invite Him in. Matt 3:11; Lk 11:13; Lk 24:49

 

The In, With & Upon of the Holy Spirit
Jesus in John 14 and onwards began to proclaim the different ways in which the Holy Spirit works in us

• Jesus spoke of the IN-working or regenerating work of the Spirit and himself breathed upon the disciples see Titus 3:5
• Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be WITH them as a counsellor or in the Greek an advocate (one who walks with us) John 14:26
• Jesus told us to wait for the Holy Spirit to come UPON us Acts 1:8

Preparing the Temple

Cleansing precedes the infilling see Acts 2:38 more of this to follow next week...