19/12/09

You are the Temple

1 Corinthians 3:17 - If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.


We are reminded many times by most preachers via this scripture that our body is the Temple of God and God dwells in us. Though the other scriptures tell us about this but this scripture goes beyond a person being the Temple of God.

When Paul was writing this message it was not to an individual but to a congregation of believers. As an individual we are God's Temple and also as a congregation we are God's Temple.

The Temple gets glorified more when we together become the Temple of God.

If you study the design of the Tabernacle which the Lord instructed Moses to make had symbolic meanings in each any every part of it.

There were boards which were used to surround as border of the Tabernacle. The boards were made of shittim wood. The Hebrew word used for shittim comes from the meaning 'pierce'.

Jesus Christ was the one who was pierced for us and when we are born again in Him we too become like Him. Therefore we call ourselves Christians which literately means little Christs (Disciples of Christ).

We may be meeting in different congregations under different ministries and Churches, but the glory of God will manifest further among us when we come together like the boards of the Tabernacle.

This is something which is very important to the Lord therefore He went further to commit when 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name He will be there. When He said He will be there it did not mean just His presence because He is by default everywhere. It actually meant His glory will be manifested so much that humans with naked eyes (who do not know God) will also know of His presence.

God loves His Temple which is you and me very much and even more when we come together in His Name. We are like the boards which are held together by rings. A ring symbolizes authority, the authority which we receive in His Name.

He is so passionate of us that He will destroy anyone who comes against His Temple. In the Old Testament we read fire came from nowhere and devoured people and things like that, which we do not see happen now. But that does not mean God does not get angry now like He did before. In fact like His grace is abundant His anger has also multiplied and in the right time He will manifest it. So when the grace is there and the possibility is there for us change, we should.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Father God, we thank You for the immense love You have for us. You loved us as much as You love your Beloved Son. Lord God, You being God came as man and called us your brother to show your love for us. The things which You have set forth for us is so awesome that any man would not only give 1 worldly life but even 10 worldly lives for it. But You have hid these from man and one when they abide in your love do they get to know of these heavenly things. Lord, help your love which is in us bind with others who are called in your Name that we may get to see the manifestation of your glory on earth...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Exodus 26:15,24
15 And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.
24 And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

Matthew 18:19-20
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Luke 15:21-22
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

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