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The Holy Spirit
Temple of the Holy Spirit
God's first dwelling place among
men after the fall of Adam was the tent pitched by Moses
in the wilderness. Here dwelt for many years and communed
with His chosen people. The second place of His dwelling
was in Solomon's magnificent temple, built expressly as
the house of God.
These temporal dwelling places were
only dim shadows of the real temple of God. There being no
plan by which the souls of men could become fit temples
for God through the Spirit, God dwelt among, not in, His
people; but God had planned a time, and the prophets
foresaw the same, when, "as God hath said, he would
dwell in them, and walk in them; and they should be his
people and he would be their God." 2 Cor. 6:16.
The Jewish nation, whom God had
favored above all people, and among whom He had dwelt for
years, refused and rejected God, and when the fullness of
time had come for His Son to come and build for Him a
spiritual house the Jews rejected and crucified Him, and
for this cause God became displeased with them insomuch
that He moved out of the temple built by Solomon, and
Jesus said when He looked down on the doomed city and
temple, "Behold, your house is left unto you
desolate." Luke 13:35. After this we hear Stephen
say, "The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with
hands." Acts 7:48.
God no longer dwells in a house
made of wood and stone, but in the hearts of His people
through" the Holy Spirit. "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. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and
of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit." Eph. 2:19-22. "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. 2:5. "Know ye
not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God,
him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,
which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:16, 17.
Then a so-called church, or meeting
house, is not the temple or house of God; but He dwells in
the hearts of His people, wherever or whoever they are.
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will
dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be their God." Rev.
21:3.
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