Rooted in WorshipSample

Temple of the Holy Spirit

“Make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”

Exodus 25:8

When the Lord brought the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt, he planned for his presence to “dwell” with them. This required two things: a place for His glory to dwell and servants to minister to him in that place. God gave instructions to Moses for this dwelling place of the Lord. There are more than 50 chapters in the Old Testament devoted to the articulate design, construction, care, and use of the Tabernacle.

Skilled craftsmen would carefully and precisely fashion this holy place. The priests would prepare for their service with sacrifice, washing with water, and anointing with oil. The place and the people who served there needed to be holy because God’s presence was coming to dwell among them.

You may wonder why God would give so many rules for the Tabernacle. Why couldn’t they just worship God however they pleased? The Israelites could have done that (and did that at times), but then they would be like everyone else- creating their own ways of worship. That may work for a make - believe god, but that does not work with the true and living God.

When God created the world, Adam and Eve enjoyed a close and personal relationship with the Lord in the garden. There was no barrier between God and his creation. Sadly, when sin entered the world, God and mankind did not interact in the same way any longer. God remained holy, but Adam and Eve had become rebels. Sin led to separation- a chasm between God and his creation. But thanks be to God that he has always had a plan to fully restore the relationship!

The Tabernacle was a step in the right direction. God even allowed the High Priest to come into the Holy of Holies, where his presence dwelt once per year after following very precise preparation guidelines, but any deviation could have tragic consequences. The distance was diminished, but God’s plan had always been to permanently eliminate the barrier. The animal sacrifices, rituals, and cleanliness all provided a temporary solution to a permanent problem. God had a permanent solution in mind.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

"John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Jesus offered his life as the sacrifice for our sins. When he died on the cross and rose from the dead, he defeated sin and death forever. We could not work our way back to God, so Jesus came for us!

Upon Jesus’ death, the physical world itself was impacted. Matthew records that the “earth shook”, “rocks split”, “tombs broke open”, and the veil in the temple was “torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51-52)

Warren Wiersbe explains, “The rending of the veil symbolized the wonderful truth that the way was now open to God. There was no more need of temples, priests, altars, or sacrifices. Jesus had finished the work of salvation on the cross.”

Hallelujah!

The good news doesn’t stop there. The New Testament makes it clear that God’s presence does have a place to dwell on earth- but not in a temple made of stone. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our bodies are temples of the living God. We are holy because the Holy Spirit lives inside of us.

What is the condition of your temple?

When people interact with you, do they know that God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of you?

Have you ever considered holy living as a way to worship the Lord?

You may think this is a legalistic way of thinking, “Isn’t this what gives Christianity a bad rap—being legalistic?” Legalism and holiness are not the same. Legalism comes from a desire to follow rules and regulations for the benefit of self. The Pharisees were legalistic to the extreme, but Jesus called out their hypocrisy. Jesus, on the other hand, was not legalistic- Jesus was holy. He lived his life according to God’s will and ways for God’s glory and the good of others. He lived according to God’s Word and Spirit.

The heart of our actions should come from an inward desire to worship and honor God with our lives. The Holy Spirit resides in us, so let us honor him with our holiness today.

Reflection:

How can you express your love to the Lord today?

Is there anything you need to change or give up to pursue holiness and purity for his glory?