The Temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6:19 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [1 Cor 6:19]. When you compare our body’s temple to the tabernacle in the wilderness we see that our temple typifies a life of:
GOD – the tabernacle was filled with articles representative of God: the ark, mercy seat, candlestick, table of shewbread and altar of incense. The ark contained the law [the righteousness of God]. The mercy seat covered it symbolizing our salvation in Jesus, thus, completing our righteousness and freeing us from the law of sin and death. The candlestick typifies the Holy Spirit. The table of shewbread typifies Jesus. The altar of incense typifies our fellowship with God through prayer. So, we as the temple of God are to be filled with God. Jesus resides in us as does the Holy Spirit and we are to be filled. Today many are living on “feelings” not “filling.” The offering of incense was a continual offering and so our fellowship with Jesus must be continual through prayer. Likewise, there was the laver where we wash in the words of God to have fellowship with him [Eph 5:26 washed by the water of the word]. Don’t just do your Bible reading, then get up and leave God in the tabernacle till you return at night.
REST – You move as God moves. The Jews encamped till the cloud rose off the tabernacle and then they moved. When it rested, they rested. And so it is with God in our lives. We stay with him till he starts moving then we go with him everywhere he goes.
SACRIFICE – There was the brazen altar on which the sacrifices were made. Likewise, we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to do the will of God. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Eventually, the Jews quit offering sacrifice there and were sacrificing on the high places. Likewise. some Christians sacrifice themselves to other things instead of to the Lord. Offer yourself wholly to God.
DEATH – The tabernacle was made of wood covered with gold and it was covered with skins of rams, goats and badgers. All of these animals were dead. So, likewise, we must be dead. The tabernacle did not move by itself; it had to be carried. Thus, we must be led by the spirit of God and we cannot lead ourselves because we are dead [Gal 2:20]. When we come to life again, the spirit cannot take us where he wants us to go because we start moving in a direction that is contrary to him. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.
UNATTRACTIVENESS – The tabernacle was the temporary resting place of the Lord until the temple was built. So, our bodies are just temporary resting places for the Lord. Our heavenly temple is on high. Thus, the tabernacle was not all that pretty from the outside. It was beautiful on the inside. It’s not our outward appearance that matters; it is the inward beauty of the presence of God. This earthly house will drop.
FORGIVENESS – Blood was being shed there continually and thus the blood is being applied continually in our behalf [1 Jn 1:7-9, Heb 9:14]. And, likewise, because of the shed blood of Christ, we forgive as we have been forgiven.
PURITY – Junk got into the temple during the days of the kings and Hezekiah and Josiah had to throw the junk out. This trash was typically idols. And in Jesus’ day he threw the money changers out because they were covetous and covetousness is idolatry. We must throw the junk out and we must keep the temple clean. We must keep the idols and the strangers out of the temple.
PROTECTION – The tribes all camped around the tabernacle, because the enemy wants to get inside. The armies of God were around it to protect it. Thus, we are surrounded by armor to protect us from letting the enemy inside. The enemy loves to enter through the imagination; it is the easiest way for him to get in. And also he enters through the affections of the heart. Can you imagine the high priest inviting strangers into the temple [Paul and Trophimus]? No way. So, why do we? The tabernacle was surrounded by a court. No one could see in or out. Thus, we shouldn’t let our eyes wander without. Let your eye be single.