I really love the analogy of us Christians being called God’s House or the Temples of God.
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
The bible has many ways of explaining who we are in Christ; from being His Bride, a Soldier, a branch en grafted into His tree, and also parts of His Body. Each one of these examples helps us to understand the amazing Creatures that we are now in Christ.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” 2 Corinthians 5:17
When I was in UK last year, I looked around the Salisbury Cathedral, which was an impressive structure originally built in 1220 AD and it boasts the highest steeple in England. This large church is full of valuable relics and is flooded with tourists from all over the world every day. As I walked away from it I felt the Lord say to me that I am His Temple, His House far more glorious than this church or any other earthly structure for that matter. The bible says that when Solomon’s Temple was to built it would be a magnificant structure.
“Solomon my son is young and tender,” David said, “and the Temple of the Lord must be a marvelous structure, famous and glorious throughout the world; so I will begin the preparations for it now.” 1 Chronicles 22:5-6 TLB
“and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries:” KJV
The original Temple of God was to be an impressive structure in the earth far greater than any other building. The King James English says that it’s to exceed all other structures in the world for magnificence. Back in the day it was such a building, but like all things its unfortunately no more. Where are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon or the City of Nineveh? Praise God this amazing Temple is now being fulfilled in His new creation - which is us, the Church.
We may not see it with our physical eyes but the word declares that it is so. We are now the Temples of God and it does not yet appear what we shall be, but when He appears we shall be like Him. 1 John 3:2-3
Yes we are the House of God and we exceed every other structure on the planet for magnificence. We are more wonderful than Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s or the Salisbury Cathedral or any of the magnificent building in all the world built by the richest men for that matter. They shall all perish but we will stand, for we are built on the Rock, which is Christ.
The bible tells us that as New Creatures in Christ we have God living in us which is hard to understand. You can imagine a real estate agent taking the Father God around the world trying to sell Him a house to live in. After looking at glorious palaces and impressive buildings with magnificent views, God says that He wants to live in you. The Real Estate Agent says. “You want to live where?” “ in that person.” The Real Estate Agent says,“Why would you choose to live in that place?” God says that He sees what the Real Estate Agent doesn’t see and when He’s finished with it, it will be an exceeding magnificent place - A Palace fit for a King.
Yes we may not look that impressive on the outside but it does not yet appear what we are on the inside. When the original Tabernacle was built in the wilderness, the Temple was covered in badger skins. This was not that pleasing to the eye, but underneath was a place filled with splendid furniture, jewels, silver and gold. And it housed the awesome Presence of God.
We Christians may not look that great either on the outside but as New Creatures in Christ we are a lot bigger and better on the inside than what we are on the outside. If you are a sci-fi fan you will be aware of the ‘Tardis’ in Doctor Who. On the outside the Tardis is just an ordinary policeman’s telephone box, but inside it’s a command module with everything imaginable. We are like that too, far bigger on the inside than on the outside.
In Psalm 45:13 when speaking of the Bride of Christ, which we are, it says that she is all glorious within. KJV
“The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.”
The Prophet Haggai prophesied of our day and said that the Latter House/Church would be greater than the Former. He was saying that the House of God that was coming would be more impressive than the Temple of Solomon, and we are that House. How could this be so?
“Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:6-9
As new creatures in Christ we are washed in the blood, made holy, sanctified, purified and clean. We are even the righteousness of Christ in Christ. We are now a Palace fit for King.
The Church is also called ZION in scripture and in Psalm 50:2 it says that ‘Zion is the perfection of beauty’. The Church, Christ’s Bride is perfect in beauty, without spot or wrinkle, so much so that the King is held captive by her beauty in Song of Songs.
“Redeeming love crowns you as royalty. Your thoughts are full of life, wisdom, and virtue. Even a king is held captive by your beauty. How delicious is your fair beauty; it cannot be described as I count the delights you bring to me. Love has become the greatest.;” Song of Songs 7:5-6 TPT
It goes on the say in Psalm 50:2 that out of her God will shine. As God’s house we are all filled with His presence, His light and He wants to shine out of us.
We read of many houses these days that are ‘off the grid’. This means they are not reliant on the system the world for help, for they are self-reliant. This is how the Father wants us to be too. We are not to rely on the world for help but depend on our God. Just like Jerusalem the city of God back in the day, had its own internal water supply - so do we. The city of Laodicea on the other hand had to bring in her water by a viaduct from many miles away and under siege she was very vulnerable. Cut off her water and she was finished.
The beauty of us as God’s Temple/House is that we have our own internal, water supply. We are connected up to the River of God that flows from the throne. Jesus says that there is a well springing up within us. John 4:14. And when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you have a river.
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:37-39
As Paul says we have everything within us because we have Christ. Not only do we have our own water supply but we have His power. The power of His resurrection that exceeds all other powers on the earth is in us and quickens our bodies if we believe. Along with this there is our own lighting system.
We are filled with His light. Psalm 119:130 says that because of the word entering into us we are filled with light. It says in Matthew 6:22-23 that if your eye is single our whole body shall be filled with light. As we keep our eyes on Christ we are filled with light.
“so you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.” Colossians 2:10
After Jacob had his dream in Genesis 28:17 he said that this is the House of God this is the Gateway to Heaven. This tells us that God’s House is also a portal into Heaven. Jesus said in Luke 17:20 that the Kingdom of God is within us. As Christians we are His House and the King lives in us. We don’t have to go far to find God anymore as He now lives in us. May His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven through us, His Church, His House. Amen
Jesus warned us that there would be many storms in life that would come against our house, but we will stand strong if we keep our foundation upon Christ the Rock. Be not surprised when you come under attack, but resist the enemy by submitting yourselves to God declaring that you are the House of God filled with Christ and don’t move off this firm foundation.