Monday, July 3, 2017

Bible Study: EZRA AND NEHEMIAH WEEK # 8

"Re-Building God's Temple"


 

Subject:      A Spiritual Message: Part 2

 

Scripture Reading:        John 2:19; 2:21, I Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19, Revelations 11:19

 

Let's look at the Temple and the human body in this section. We are created by God. The Bible put it this way.

 

Fearfully and wonderfully made:

"Fearfully and wonderfully made" is how King David described God's creation of human beings (Psalm 139:14). David praised God for this marvelous work called the human body. There are several references in the Bible where the body is actually likened to a temple (John 2:21; 1 Corinthians 6:19).

There is a purpose behind everything God does, and the creation of the human body is no different. A major purpose in this life is to grow in the righteous character of God. Through His dwelling in us by the power of His Holy Spirit, we are helped in achieving that purpose in life that will enable us to live forever in His family.

The apostle Paul shed light on the purpose of the human body when he told the brethren in Corinth, "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:16-17).

Paul explained that God will dwell in men by the power of His Spirit. If our bodies are to serve as a temple or dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, does God have specific expectations about how we treat and care for our bodies?

Your body is to house the Holy Spirit:

Paul taught members the need to remember what was dwelling in them and how they would be held accountable for their care of their spiritual temple. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

We human beings are accountable to God for the way in which we care for our bodies. The analogy of a temple points to the temple in Jerusalem that Paul knew at that time. This temple was a rebuilt version of the magnificent temple Solomon had built long before.

Later on, in 1 Corinthians 6 Paul warned the Church about sexual immorality, stating: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!" (v.15); and again in 1 Corinthians 6:18 he wrote, "Flee sexual immorality."

His meaning is clear: Sexual immorality is a sin that defiles our bodies—making a mockery of the temple in which the Holy Spirit is to dwell.

Care for the body:

The human body needs to consume food for energy virtually every day. But not everything that crawls, runs, flies or swims was designed by the Creator to be consumed by people. Does God Care What Meats We Eat?" We also care for our bodies with proper sleep and exercise and appropriate social activities. It is no secret that even the things we think about can impact our health. Solomon wrote, "A good report makes the bones healthy" (Proverbs 15:30). What we choose to think about and even the words from family and friends can affect our health. Paul wrote: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

God promises to give a peace of mind that can help us cope with stresses and trials that sometimes war against our temple of the Holy Spirit. Thinking about things God wants us to think about will promote spiritual health to the temple.

Limitations:

Of course, there may be limitations to what we are able to do to preserve our health. Part of the equation is genetic or may involve environmental factors that are beyond our control. For example, the New Testament gives us the example of a man blind from birth, through no fault of his own (John 9:1-3).

In the same manner, some health weaknesses may not be caused by lack of self-discipline or failure to follow practices that would honor God, but may result from genetic predisposition or factors in our environment or life situation over which we have no control. However, given those constraints, God expects us to do as we are able to follow balanced guidelines pertaining to diet and exercise.

A temple like no other:

The temple Solomon built was magnificent! Many parts of the temple were overlaid with pure gold, including the altar and the inner sanctuary (1 Kings 6:21-22).

Our bodies, which are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, are also quite special. Anything that contains God's presence is deemed holy. The body that receives the gift of the Holy Spirit is special to God and is to reflect His nature.

How would you describe the current state of your temple—your body? We have the freedom to choose how we will care for this precious body lovingly designed by the Creator. It is His intent that we care for it and use it properly. Fearfully and wonderfully made is this body God created—the temple of the Holy Spirit!

Learn more about how we receive and are to respond to the Holy Spirit in the articles "What Is Baptism?" and "How Do You Know You Have the Holy Spirit?"

 

Week # 8     QUESTIONS

 

Questions for Review

  1. Can you see this spiritually? Explain in full detail, please.
  2. How are we created?
  3. How did Apostle Paul shed light on the human body?
  4. What is the spiritual temple?
  5. What is the purpose of God's creating the human body?
  6. What does (2 Corinthians 6:16-17) says?
  7. What God's promise concerning our minds?
  8. How would you describe the current state of your temple-your body?
  9. How do you know you have the Holy Spirit?
  10. If someone ask you about receiving the Holy Spirit, how would you explain, and what scriptures you would give?

    Review these………………………

    Spiritual Temple: The Body:

    I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19

    2 Corinthians 6:16

    Ephesians 2:20-22

    I Peter 2:5

    Spiritual Cleansing:

    Isaiah 1:16

    Jeremiah 4:14

    Acts 22:16

    I Corinthians 5:17

    2 Corinthians 7:1

    2 Timothy 2:21

    I John 3:3

    Weekly Word # 8: Mercy Seat

    Let's read the book of Esther………………..Saturday through Sunday 1-10

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Casting All Your Care Upon Him

Casting All Your Care Upon Him
1 Peter 5:7

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