My Thoughts. . .

Thursday, 07-22, 2021

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.  For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So, glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

A Christian is God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in him.  You are a temple of the Holy Spirit because you have been bought by God.  Jesus purchased you with his own blood!  Yet, some believe they must meet with others in a specific location before they can offer up worship to God.  God dwells in His people continually.  Since that is so, why do some believe we are limited in worshiping Him only one to three hours each week?

When one is on his way to the church building, God has been dwelling in him before he arrives in that assembly room.  Some believe their worship is limited from 10 until 11 a.m. whereas God is present in the saved prior to that hour, during that hour, and after that hour.  Although God lives within the believer, some believe worship is restricted to that auditorium beginning with the “opening prayer” and ceasing with the “closing one.”  Does that not seem strange?

Did Jesus purchase you with His blood so you can ignore His indwelling 167 hours of each week?  Is “worship” restricted to that locale, during that specific hour, while engaged in five specific acts?  If so, would that not mean that though God’s living presence is in you 24/7, you do not recognize it except one hour on Sunday morning?  If you claim you worship three hours each week, that still leaves 165 hours when you ignore His presence by not offering Him what you call worship.  Is that actually spelled-out in scripture?

Some believe “worship” is restricted to location, day, time, and to five specific acts performed during that assembly.  If that is true, then those “specifics” actually limit worship.  However, most ignore the fact that none of those “acts” are described as “worship” by any inspired writer.  Assumption is used to call those acts “worship.”  It is also used to add those five acts to John 4 and assume they are what Jesus was specifically referring to.  That assumption is accepted as scriptural fact by those who follow that teaching.  If so, then one of the inspired writers would have stated it in the New Testament.  Since none do, one will locate it only in non-inspired literature.  That would make it “the traditions of men.” 

Since God dwells in the saved person, that individual may talk to God any time about anything.  One may also talk to God giving Him thanks for His multiple blessings.  I am not sure who is responsible for limiting our conversation with the Lord, but God’s indwelling is based upon the fellowship we enjoy with Him as His saved people 24/7.  Those who limit that fellowship suffer the consequences.  To see how that kind of fellowship works, try that limited style of fellowship with your spouse.  Talk with your mate using the same amount of time that you speak with God.  The way that marriage progresses will depend upon whether your fellowship is limited or not.  Will that “time spent” enhance your marriage or destroy it?

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? . . . You were bought with a price.  So, glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:20).