The Temple, the Christian, and the Holy Spirit

The Old and New Testaments are different but often not as different as we often assume. This is the case in our reading for today.

1 John 4:13, "By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit."

2 Chronicles 5:13-14, "and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, 'For he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever,' the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

The way that God filled Solomon's temple is the way the Holy Spirit fills the Christian. We may not be able to explain every detail or put it eloquently but we know it has happened. There is no true conversion without the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. We can sound spiritual and do spiritual looking things but if the Holy Spirit is not in us then all our talking and doing is for nothing. So, how do we get the Holy Spirit?

John 3:6-8, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Lord, send Your Spirit. Send Your Spirit to bring the new birth. Send Your Spirit to give strength. Send Your Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Send Your Spirit so that we will know that we abide in You and You abide in us. Master, I pray this morning that Your Spirit will speak to my spirit about my sonship. Comfort me with the truth that I am Your child. Encourage me with the truth that You love me. Equip me with the Spirit so that I will love others. By Your Spirit make me a temple useful to You and full of Your presence.

In Jesus' name
Amen