What’s In Your Temple?

I Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

I wanted to share something with you all that my friend Bob said to our men’s group last night. We were talking about prayer in response to the sermon this past weekend. So please let this soak in and see what the Lord reveals to you.

Jesus, on two occasions, went into the temple in Jerusalem and overturned the tables, driving out the money changers. In Matthew 21:13, Jesus says, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” He told them that His house would be called a house of prayer.

Both times, the temple had become a place that no longer prioritized prayer to the Almighty God. Both times, Jesus looked around and must have seen no one praying, only people doing everything but what the temple was made for. It had become common practice for the upper religious elite to profit from the people by charging fees to exchange money and by selling “better and unblemished” animals for sacrifice.

Later, Paul tells the Corinthians that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should not be used for ungodly practices like sexual immorality. He continues, explaining that they were purchased with a price and no longer own their bodies, but instead, should use them to honor God.

If our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and Christ dwells within us, then we ought to use our bodies in the way Jesus described, as a house of prayer. We all need to stop clouding our minds and hearts with unnecessary things that choke out the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. We need to be in communication with God all day long and be ready to hear His voice. Prayer is a relationship with God, it doesn’t end when you say “amen.”

Some of us need to clear out the temple. Maybe some of us need spring cleaning like Jesus did, throwing out distractions and refocusing on the Lord. Sin clouds your ability to hear the Holy Spirit.

So, what does your house, your temple, look like? What’s going on in there? Sin has no place in the temple. Prayer is what should be going on there.

Prayer: Father, help us make our house, our body and heart, a place of prayer, constant communication with You. Help us get rid of the distractions that cloud our focus on You, Father. Help us fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.