Let’s explore what it means to be the temple of the Holy Ghost by comparing it to other references of the temple of God throughout the Bible and seeing how it all relates to us.
The temple of God can also be referred to as the house of God or as the Church…
The temple of God can be used to explain:
- Our experience as individuals filled with the Holy Ghost
- As a collective (the Church)
- As Gods’ dwelling place,
- Where the glory of God can be found
- Where the power of God can be found
- Where the word of God is made clear,
- And a place of praise and worship.
There was also a literal man-made temple in the Old Testament, the Tabernacle that preceded the Temple, Gods’ dwelling place in heaven was sometimes referred to as a temple, and so on.
Let’s start with…
You Are The Temple Of The Holy Ghost
- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Cor 6:19)
- And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
So… when the Holy Ghost is in you obviously you become the house where the Holy Ghost resides and therefore the temple of the Holy Ghost. You can read in Acts 2:4 how the Holy Ghost takes up residence in a person.
In fact, when the Holy Ghost arrives so does the Father and the Son…
- Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Jn 14:23)
This whole chapter is talking about the Holy Ghost and we are to receive who Jesus sends.
The Greek word for abode is (monē) and it can mean:
- a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode
- to make an (one’s) abode
- of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers
So the Father, Son, And Holy Ghost take up residence in your building and you become the temple of the Holy Ghost/God.
When Jesus Entered The Earthly Temple He Did Or Said All The Following:
By seeing how Jesus behaved, what he spoke, what he did, and the things that happened when he was in the temple we can see how these same things apply to us when we become the temple of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus Is Greater Than The Temple
While Jesus dwells in us and is in the temple he is still greater than us and that should be obvious because he doesn’t dwell solely within me or you, he dwells in everyone who receives the Holy Ghost.
- But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. (Mt 12:6)
Jesus Overthrew The Tables Of The Money Changers
When I first came to the Lord massive changes happened in my life.
Gambling, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, swearing, and so much were removed from my life.
And a lot more took place including a major attitude adjustment, different priorities, a love of God and others I didn’t think was possible.
When Jesus comes into the temple a change takes place. He overthrows and casts out those things that don’t belong in the house of God.
- And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. (Mt 21:12)
My House Shall Be Called The House Of Prayer
Now that we are the temple of God we should be a house of prayer.
- And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Mt 21:13)
People Come To Jesus In The Temple And He Heals Them
Sometimes we wish we had more faith or was super spiritual as though by our own efforts we can heal people.
When people were healed by Jesus they simply found him in the temple (of course he healed them away from the temple as well).
The main point I want to draw out of this is that the temple did not do the healing. It was he who was inside the temple who healed.
Jesus is in us – it is he that does the healing – we don’t need to overthink things we are just the dumb building that does nothing – but just like the temple, we need to open our doors and allow people to meet the one who has all of the power inside.
- And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (Mt 21:14)
Jesus Is Able To Destroy the temple Of God And Rebuild It In 3 Days
This was speaking about his body. How he would die and rise from the grave the third day.
This yet again shows that Jesus himself is the temple, the body of Christ is the Church, and as Christ now dwells in us through the Holy Ghost we also now dwell him.
- And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. (Mt 26:61)
- But he spake of the temple of his body. (Jn 2:21)
- Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (Jn 15:4)
- At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (Jn 14:20)
The Veil Of The Temple Was Rent
The veil represented the flesh of Jesus. Through him, the old way was gone and the new ushered in.
Through him, we now have access to the Holiest Of Holies and can boldly approach the throne of God. The Holy Ghost makes the way into the holiest of all accessible to all believers.
- And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mt 15:38)
- By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. (Heb 10:20)
- The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Heb 9:8)
- Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:6)
The Church Is The House Of God
The Church is clearly identified as the house of God, it is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
There is quite a lot packed into this one verse of scripture.
- But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Tim 3:15)
The Church Is The Pillar And Ground Of Truth
There is a fascinating story in (Gen 28:10-22) that is too long to repeat here but is definitely worth reading.
It involves what is commonly called Jacobs Ladder where he envisioned a ladder to heaven with angels descending and ascending into heaven.
But a big player in this story is the stone Jacob chose to sleep on, and he was to later anoint that stone with oil and set it up as a pillar.
He named the place Bethel, which means House Of God. Upon this rock/pillar was the place he saw the gateway to heaven.
Jesus is the rock (the lively stone). That rock that followed them was Christ (anointed) and through Christ, we have access to heaven.
However here are the main verses I am alluding too…
- And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
- And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
- And he called the name of that place Bethel (Bethel means house of God)
- And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
- And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you (Nathanael), Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (Jn 1:51)
- Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Rev 3:12)
The Church/Temple Is Made Of Living Stones
So our foundation is Jesus Christ who is a living stone and we are also lively stones. We have been quickened (made alive) in Christ and are built up as a spiritual house.
- To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Pet 2:4-5)
The Church Is To Go Out Into The Highways
When preparing the materials for the temple David commanded to gather the strangers and set up masons to hew stones.
We are also to go out into the highways to gather stones for the new temple (temple of God) and these stones will be hewed also, fashioned into the image of God and become different stones to other stones – lively ones.
- Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. (1 Chron 22:1-2)
- And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Lk 14:23)
There Is Treasure In the Temple Of God
The temple of God had all sorts of treasures inside of it such as a wide variety of golden vessels and the New Testament church has a real treasure in it and we have this treasure in earthen vessels.
In fact, every individual in the Church is the treasure of God.
- But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Cor 4:7)
- For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Lk 12:34)
- A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Lk 6:45)
- And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. (Is 33:6)
- For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. (Ps 135:4)
In summary, we are indeed the temple of the Holy Ghost and we can glean from other Bible verses about the temple of God, the house of God, and so on, how we are to function as the temple of God and what we should do.
In The Temple, We Speak Of The Glory Of God
- The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. (Ps 29:9)
In The Temple, We Think Of His Lovingkindness
- We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. (Ps 48:9)
The temple of God is a place of worship, praise, prayer, it is where the glory of God appears, a place where healing takes place, where mercy can be found, where the High Priest is, and more.
We are now the temple of God – what a mind-blowing concept to take hold of and what an amazing life to experience.
You may also be interested in… The Holy Spirit And The Grace Of God Are Inseparable
Latest posts by Bigal (see all)
- 20 Affirmations From Ephesians Chapter 2 - December 15, 2022
- 12 Biblical Events That Happened At Shiloh - December 14, 2022
- 14 Ways The Burning Bush Represents The Holy Spirit - December 14, 2022