The Functioning Temple July 26th Devotional

Read:

Ephesians 2:21

In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.

Also Read:

1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?

In the book “Another Wave Of Revival Frank J. Bartleman wrote: “In the beginning of the Pentecostal work, I became very much exercised in the spirit that Jesus should not be slighted, ‘lost in the temple,’ by the exaltation of the Holy Spirit and of the gifts of the Spirit.” Let’s bring out the two Greek words for temple in the old testament and new testament, and how the two words can really relate to us as the functioning church. The first Hebrew word is heykal. It means palace of God as King. The second Hebrew word is bayith, and it means a house containing a family. It also means a palace or household. Temple in 1 Corinthians chapter 3:16 and Ephesians chapter 2:21 is a body or church. The definition for temple in the new testament is naos, and the definition is a spiritual temple consisting of the Saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ. We are his temple, and he is our Lord. I want to encourage us to bind together like never before as a church or temple. One thing that will cause God's holy temple to rise stronger is exalting Christ Jesus completely, ands as we exalt Christ individually and corporately, then things will begin to unfold before us. We thank God for the great things that He gives us, but we need to exalt Him first and foremost for those things He gives us. The temple has been delayed as the body of Christ because of exalting the glory of God instead of the one who is the giver of glory. We have exalted the prophetic more than exalting Christ, and when we exalt Christ Jesus as who He is, we will function properly as the temple. Let's beging to build again as the temple.

Prayer:
Lord help us to be that functioning temple you desire us to be. We exalt you today Lord, and we lift you far above everything, and we desire to go forth in your mighty name as a temple. Amem.

by Keith Edwards