You + Holy Spirit = Temple

Where does God dwell?

This was an important question in the ancient world. In fact, I think this is an important question for our world today. Where do we go to meet God? As we think through this our answers will determine how we view God, what is “holy” and our role in knowing Him.

The answer: in a temple.

Almost every culture and civilization would answer it this way. You would go to a temple in order to “worship”.

Idols are things, ideas, and people who get in the way of worshipping Jesus.

This may not be the best of definitions but I thin it starts to get us to grasp what Scripture would call an “idol”.

Idols are all around us.

I want you to think and possibly write down some idols that exist in our world, country and even more locally. Some idols: freedom, sports, cars, homes, families, other religions (Buddha, etc.), buildings (even church buildings/sanctuaries), productivity, sexuality, materialism, countries, and the list could go on.

We must stand guard against idols.

They are very sneaky.

Paul encourages us to value the church.

We cannot be lazy in how we view the church.

The Holy Spirit transforms.

This is what we celebrate on this day.

We collectively are God’s Temple.

Though I think Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 6 that individually we are God’s temple in this passage he uses the plural form of you.

We collectively, and individually, build the church.

Leaders are important but we cannot forget that all of us are commanded to build his church.

Be careful of what material you use to build.

Everything will be exposed to fire to see its worth.

Live out your value.