Have you ever walked into an old church building and it seemed like was haunted and a bit creepy? There are a lot of great cathedrals all over the world that have lost their life. Long ago it became more about how beautiful the building was that what was going on inside. More people tour the church to take pictures than to participate in worship. You are a Holy Temple. God created us to be a place where the Holy Spirit is alive and working.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.
A Place of Worship
You are a temple in God’s eyes. A temple is a place where God is worshipped. There is nothing special about the temple, what’s special is who is worshipped. Many people set themselves up as the god who is worshipped. They refer to themselves as a temple and thus they have to keep it in the best shape. When a temple becomes the object of attention, it moves from being a place where God dwells to a museum where memories are stored.
The Spirit Resides
We are a temple where the Spirit resides. The power is in the Spirit, not the structure. When the Holy Spirit reigns supreme, there is growth and love. When the Holy Spirit is quenched, there is an emptiness. We need to be a temple that welcomes the moving of the Holy Spirit so fruit can grow and gifts can be used.
Desecrating the temple, outside or inside, is an insult to the Lord. God does not take that lightly. Paul says God will destroy those who destroy the temple. He is referring to the church. Those who try to bring God’s church down will suffer the consequences of contradicting him.
God wants holiness in our lives. Living in sin and debauchery destroys the temple. The Corinthians were notorious for their suspect lifestyles. Paul is encouraging them to live in such a way where God gets the glory through their lives. If you are living a lifestyle that is contrary to the Word of God repent of your sins and ask him to clean up your life. Once he does, he will fill your life with the Holy Spirit. Then you can be a temple where the right worship happens.