God Undeniably Resides Within Every Believer

A little boy went up to a missionary Sunday School leader in a pagan country. The boy said, "I like what you say about the God of the Bible, but I can’t see him. But, if I go to the temple I can see my God." The missionary said to the little boy, "Listen, does your God bleed?" The boy said, "I don’t know."

The missionary gave him a pin and said, "Next time you go to the temple, when no one else is watching, prick him and see what happens." The following week the boy returned to his Sunday School class. He said to the missionary, "I did it, I did it, I pricked the idol."

The missionary said, "And what happened?" The boy replied, "Nothing, my god doesn't bleed." Straight away the missionary said, "But my God did! He bled for me and he bled for you!"  - (From a sermon by Gordon Curley, Glorifying God, 1/23/2011)

When we talk about the church, we're often referring to a building where we meet and gather for worship. However, the building is not the church! It's a place where the church gathers. The church is that universal, mystical body made up of every person who has trusted Jesus Christ by faith, and has been born into the family of God.

The building where you sit every week is not the sanctuary. You, if you are saved, are the sanctuary of God! In fact, the word "temple" in 1 Corinthians 6:19 refers not to the whole place of the temple, but just to the Holy of Holies, the place where God dwelled. What Paul is trying to tell us is that we're the dwelling place of Almighty God! I don't know how that touches you, but that is a sobering realization to me!

Somehow, we have the opinion that what we do has no effect on us spiritually. The truth, however, is greatly different. If you are saved, God lives in you. Therefore, everywhere you go, everything you do, everything that touches you, in effect, touches God. That's why Paul tells the Corinthian Christians (1 Corinthians 6:15-20) that they are God's Temples.

It appears that many were using their bodies for immoral purposes and were defiling their temple. Here's some background information about this: In Corinth, there was the Temple of Diana. Diana was the goddess of sex and love. In her temple, there were over 1,000 female priestesses. In reality, they were nothing more than prostitutes. Because to worship Diana, you had to have sexual intercourse with one of the temple prostitutes! Many in this church were used to this lifestyle.

They reasoned that God had saved their souls and that their body was different. They had the mind set that said "What I do with my body has no impact on my spiritual walk." Of course, this is worlds away from the truth!

When God gave His plans for the Tabernacle, and later on the Temple, He set forth, in no uncertain terms, that He demanded purity in the materials and construction. Otherwise, He would never fill it with His glory. God will not fill a dirty temple! I want to focus on this concept of Christians being the "temple of God." In doing so, I'd like to draw some comparisons between these earthly, fleshy temples and the temple that stood there in Jerusalem.

Now, there are several comparisons between our bodies and the original Temple of God. And, it's that common ground I'd like to explore with you today.

First, our body and the Temple as places of dedication. The earthly Temple was a place wholly dedicated to God and His glory. Nothing that defiled was allowed on the grounds. When something out of the ordinary occurred, God took immediate steps to take care of the problem (Leviticus 10:1-2; Leviticus 10:8-11). Be that as it may, the earthly temple was a place set apart for God and His glory.

These earthly bodies we dwell in are also set apart for His glory! According to 1 Corinthians 6:20, no one has the right to use his/her body for anything other than that which glorifies the Lord, 1 Corinthians 6:19b, 20. The reason? We have been bought with a price! Therefore, regardless of what we're doing, if it doesn't bring honor and glory to God, then it's sin (Romans 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:31)!

The second comparison, between our bodies and the original Temple of God, is its use as a place of devotion. The temple was place where men gathered to worship God. They came to the temple and glorified the Lord. It was a place where songs were sung, prayers were prayed, hands were raised, praise was offered and God was magnified. The temple was a place of worship (Isaiah 56:7).

And, just as that temple was devoted to God as a place of worship, our bodies are to be places where God is worshiped. The truth is, these bodies will worship one God, or another!  Now, I understand, the question may come up, "How can I worship God with my body?" The answers are many, but here are a few.

1. Present it as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). Agree with God that you'll use your body for nothing that will dishonor and degrade His Name.

2. Lower it in prayer (Jeremiah 33:3) Take you body aside from the world and go to the Lord in prayer on a regular basis. Nothing glorifies the Lord quiet like people who trust Him enough to call on Him in faith.

3. Practice his presence (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). Never forget that Jesus is always with you. Learn to walk in the knowledge of His enduring presence. If you'll stop to consider that Jesus is there and He is watching, it may prevent you from engaging in activities that would dishonor His name.

4. Praise him continually (Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 47:1). Determine in your heart that you'll not allow any circumstance of life, or any bump in the road to stop you from having a thankful heart of praise before the Lord.

5. Place your body in His hand for service (Romans 6:16). You will give your body to one master, or the other. It will either be the gods of this world, or it will be God. Give yourself to the Lord and He will use you for His glory and bless you. Other things, will just leave you broken and empty.

A third comparison, is our body and the temple as places of duty. The temple was a place where men carried out the duties they had been given by the Lord. Things such as the sacrifice, the tithe, the offerings and prayers were all carried out at the temple. It was a place where duties were performed. Our bodies, these fleshly temples, are also places where we're to carry out the duties we have been given by God.

Is your temple a place where the duties of the Lord are carried out? There are many areas where we're duty bound before the Lord. In witnessing, in worship, in prayer, in tithing, in obedience, in holiness, in righteousness and in thousands of other ways, we're duty bound before God. So then, how do we measure up?

Let's now compare our bodies and the Temple as places of death. That old temple in Jerusalem was the scene of many deaths. Millions of animals were taken there and slain on the altars in obedience to God's commands. While there was praise, singing and worship in this great place, there was also the stench of death. Every time anyone went to the temple, they were immediately confronted with a death scene.

My dear friends, like it or not, we should be confronted with the same scene when we come into contact with God's temples. You and I are challenged to be dead to certain things in this world. According to the Bible, we have been "born again" (1 Peter 1:23). As a result, we are a totally "new creation", (2 Corinthians 5:17). Therefore, we're expected to be dead to our old way of life, and to the way of life held so dear by this world system. (Colossians 3:1-9).

In these verses, we're told to put off, or consider ourselves dead to, certain activities. Among them are: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, and lying; to name just a few. What this boils down to is that we are to put these bodies to death for the glory of God. Of course, He doesn't want us killing ourselves. But, He does want us to retrain ourselves, and restrain our bodies. We're to control them; and not the other way around (1 Corinthians 9:27)!

Last, but not least, let's compare our bodies and the Temple as places of display. When men saw the temple standing there in Jerusalem, they were reminded of God. They were made to recall that there is a God in Heaven who loves sinners, and has made a way for their redemption.

These bodies, as temples of the Lord, are our witness to the world that we have been redeemed. Every time the world sees a child of God, they see a manifestation of the power and the grace of Almighty God. That's why Paul referred to the Corinthian believers as "his epistle" (2 Corinthians 3:2).

Paul is telling them, in this verse, that everywhere they turn, everywhere they go, they are living, breathing love letters to humanity. Letters that say to sinners, "What God has done here, He can do in you." You may be the only sermon some people ever see. That is a message that needs repeating!

Whether you like it or not, you are a witness. Your life either speaks well of Jesus, or you bring dishonor to him by the things you do and how you live. His plan for us is summed up by Paul in Philippians 1:27. What kind of statement are we (us) making about Jesus?

In closing, yes, it is your body, but if you are saved, it's still the temple of God. So, are you totally dedicated to Jesus today? Are you using your body to worship Him in true devotion? Are you fully executing your duties before the Lord? Have you put those things to death in your life that dishonor Him? Is your life a pleasing display to the saving grace of God?

Scripture: 1 John 2:15-17; Matthew 10:28; Philippians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:44; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:21

Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for today. Please guide me to say the right things when sharing your word with others. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Arianna