Man as a temple of God

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Cor. 3:16). Man has three parts; the body like the outer court is outside, and can be seen by all. It is here that man should obey all God’s commandment. Further in, there is man’s soul the inward life in man; it includes man’s feelings, will and mind. This is the Holy Place to a regenerated one. His love, thoughts and desires are all here. In this place there is much light because there is the lampstand with seven branches, and the priests come in and out to serve God. However, further in, there is the Holy of Holies behind the veil, which is unreachable by human light and is a place invisible to the human eyes. This is “the secret place of the “Most High” (Psalm 91:1). It is the habitation of God, a place that no man can reach unless God removes the veil. This is the human spirit. This spirit is deeper than man’s consciousness; it is the place unreachable by man’s feelings. It is in this place that man fellowships with God.

In the Holy of Holies there is no light, for this is God’s habitation. In the Holy place there is light because there is the lampstand with seven branches. In the outer court everything is exposed under the sun. This is a picture of a regenerated person. His spirit is like the Holy of Holies, where God dwells. This place is entered by faith and is totally dark. This is a place, which the believer cannot see, feel or understand. The soul is like the Holy place, where there is much power of understanding, many thoughts, much knowledge, and many rules and where one comprehends both the things in the psychological world and the things in the physical world. The body is like the outer court; it is seen by all. All its activities and living are visible to everyone “you also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” I Peter 2:5.

The work of the temple revolves around the revelation in the Holy of Holies. All the actions in the outer court and the Holy Place are determined by the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. In the Holy of Holies there does not seen to be much work; it is very dark. All the activities are in the Holy Place. All the works in the outer court are controlled by the priests in the Holy Place. Indeed the Holy of Holies is a quiet and still place. Yet all the activities of the Holy Place are directed by the inspiration of the Holy of Holies.

Lesson for the week: Romans 6:12-13 “Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”

Your members are your spirit, soul and body. Glorify God in your body.
Christ Arsenal Retreat Centre. www.christarsenal.org email to info@christarsenal.org