THE REAL HOUSE OF GOD

Monday 11 November

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? 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NKJV)

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NKJV)

Most people grow up thinking that the house of God is a building where Christians gather together. Where did we get this idea from? It certainly was not the New Testament. It is actually an Old Testament mindset that has been passed on through generations. Like many traditions however it’s not the length of time they have been held but whether or not they stand up to Biblical scrutiny.

To understand this further we need to examine the word ‘temple’. ‘Hieron’ and ‘naos’ are the two Greek words for temple and they mean a ‘sacred place’ and ‘to dwell’. Another way of saying it would be a holy house. Let me explain. In ancient times, a temple was a building to house the presence of a god or deity which was considered sacred or holy to the worshippers or priests of that particular god. There could be multiple gods being housed simultaneously.

In the tabernacle and later on temple in Judaism, the ark of the covenant symbolised the presence of God Almighty. When we study the scriptures we find that the tabernacle was actually Moses’ teaching ministry to the Jews. This tabernacle or ‘moving house’ was only a type and shadow of the moving house that God would eventually reside in; The body that houses the recreated human spirit.

Solomon said something remarkable at the dedication of the temple he built for the Lord ‘the highest heavens cannot contain you much less this temple that I have built’. He too had a knowing that this particular temple was not God’s final house or resting place. The Lord Himself through the prophet Isaiah said, ‘heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?’

So where is this holy moving house? The more accurate question would be; who is this holy moving house? It’s you in Christ and Christ in you. That’s why you are holy because Jesus lives in you. The same one who said ‘be holy for your father is holy’ who is the visible image of the invisible God. Remember, ‘Holy Spirit’ is not a name, it is a description of His character and nature.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not opposed to Christians gathering together for the purpose of teaching the Word, worship and fellowship. In Hebrews 10:25 the writer says ‘not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.’ What day? The day of the Lord.

Know this. There is no such thing as an anointed building, only anointed people. In our first two scriptures there are individual and corporate meanings for the temple or house of God but in both instances the context is people not physical structures. If we had this new mindset as God’s holy moving houses, imagine what the Holy Spirit can do through us both individually and corporately to impact our world.

Let this really sink in for a moment. You house the Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ in YOU in all His power and glory. Make no mistakes about it. You are the real house of God!

APPLICATION

Meditate on the reality that when you received Christ you became a God carrying vessel and all of the authority and ability of God now resides in your recreated human spirit.