A temple is a building. So, Solomon built a physical edifice for God in 1st Kings, Chapter 6. However, the temple of God ceased to mean a physical building with the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ does not see physical building as temple or church. He believes in individual relationships and dwells inside individuals who accept him in their hearts as Lord and saviour. This connection is secured through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that occurs during salvation encounter.
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been POURED OUT on the Gentiles also” (Acts 10:44-45)
So, your temple is not your physical church Cathedral with a wonderful brand name. “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? But he was speaking of the temple of his body. Therefore, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them” (John 2:19-22).
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1st Corinthians 6:19).
The English Standard Version of Global Study Bible defines a temple as “a place set aside as holy because of God’s presence there.” In other words, a temple is a place that is ‘unique and different’ because it ‘carries and reflects’ the presence of God
We can infer from the above explanation that if you are a born again Christian and Jesus Christ has possessed you with his spirit and presence, you are a moving temple; a moving church. Church is not the physical structure with a brand name where you visit every Sunday to clap and dance. You are church. When people see you, they should see church in form of manifestation of Jesus’ nature of discipline, holiness, joy, glory, humility and the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:23-24.
Someone made a statement recently on radio, suggesting that based on the economic situation of his country, it could be wise to convert all church cathedrals and mosques into product manufacturing companies and factories, as a way of providing employment for the jobless youths. Well, this makes some human sense, except that fellowship is necessary as instructed by the Holy Scriptures. Fellowship means coming together of various ‘temples’ to worship God and seek his face. Now, such coming together is not restricted to a particular time and day of the week. Fellowship of brethren (temples of the Holy Spirit) can be held in a kitchen, under a tree, and so on.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
Until you have this understanding and salvation experience, you can hardly succeed in marriage which God himself founded, with Jesus Christ being Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22) of you, a temple of God’s Holy Spirit.
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that, which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:11).
So, check your relationship with your spouse and children. Are you living as a temple of the Holy Spirit or the temple of Satan’s evil spirit? Does the life you live in your marriage reflect the nature of Jesus Christ? Does it reflect temple of the Holy Spirit?
A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot dupe or conspire with outsiders to defraud his or her spouse. A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot lie to his or her spouse. A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot go and have sex with someone else of the opposite sex without informing his or her spouse. Unknown to many, adultery is a double sin. It is sin against God and sin against your spouse; a betrayal of trust.
A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot maltreat, physically assault or unleash violence instead of love on his or her spouse. A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot give emotional torture to his or her spouse or deliberately starve his or her spouse of sexual pleasure.
A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot play discrimination in expression of love towards children in his or her home by showing undue favouritism towards some against the others. A temple cannot curse his or her spouse or children with the same mouth used for prayers.
A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot deny his or her spouse access to progress in life and good dreams actualization. Some even deny spouse access to further education.
A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot bear malice with his or her spouse. Forgiveness is a virtue and product of love, fruit of the Holy Spirit. A temple of the Holy Spirit cannot live a prayerless family life and walk in full carnality and pride of life. These represent the mark of Satan.
In your marriage, you are either a Holy Spirit’s temple, manifesting the fruits of the Holy Spirit, or a temple of an evil spirit, working for Satan. There is no midway. Where do you belong?.
Seek and receive genuine personal salvation encounter and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, your marriage shall be a blessing and a testimony in Jesus name. Amen.
