1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 - The Holy Spirits Dwelling Place.
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 (NLT) Dont you
realize that your body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by
God? You do not belong to yourself, for God
bought you with a high price. So you must honor God
with your body.
COMMENTARY PEARL
God's Word says that our bodies and our
minds are God's home, his temple. That's why the
thoughts we allow inside are so important.
Destructive thoughts damage God's home and steal our
joy. Just as we strive each day to make wise
choices about the food we put into our bodies, we
must make wise choices about what we put into our
minds.
Each day, we have the privilege to fill
our minds with God's Word and will. When we fill
our minds with the world, it's garbage in and
garbage out. But when we fill our minds with God's
Word, its blessings in and blessings out.
It is impossible to keep all worldly
thoughts from our minds, but we can lessen their
influence by doing the following:
* Choose carefully what books, TV
programs, and movies we watch.
* Choose wisely who we spend time
with.
* Stay away from dangerous sites on
the Internet.
* Share our choices with an
accountability partner.
On a positive note, we can fill our
thoughts - God's temple - with good things by doing
the following:
* Start each day with "alone time"
with God.
* Write our favorite Scripture verses
on 3 x 5 cards and read them
throughout the day.
* Spend time with those who share our
desire to put good things into our
minds.
Father God, I can see that when I choose
you, I am choosing the best for myself and those
good choices flow over into the lives of everyone
I love, everyone I touch. In Jesus' name, Amen
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny
Baker]
COMMENTARY
In the Old Testament, God dwelt in the
holiest part of the temple. Only the high priest was
allowed to go there, and only once a year (Leviticus
16:2; Hebrews 9:7). Anyone who violated that law
died. That's how holy the presence of God is in
his temple.
But now, since God has raised Jesus from
the dead and sent his Spirit to his people, your
mortal body is a temple of that Holy Spirit. Your
body is like the holiest part of the Old
Testament temple. It is a sacred place. It matters to
God.
Put your hand on your chest, close your
eyes, and sit with the idea that the Holy Spirit
dwells there now. Pray that God will allow you to
fully embrace your body as his temple, so that you
can honor it as a sacred place in all you do.
You are a temple where God's Holy Spirit
has taken up residence. You are sacred space!
[The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional]
Paul had just explained that "your body
is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (v. 19). This
is not merely a figure of speech. It is
reality: your body is the Spirit's temple. Gods
Spirit literally dwells within believers, and He
uses our bodies for kingdom purposes. Believers,
therefore, must honor God with their bodies.
That means we are to flee immorality, an
infection that spreads its deadly poison like a
contagious disease. When we reach out to sinners, we
must beware of downplaying sin and lowering God's
standards of holiness. Both our spiritual health and
the condition of the church body are at stake.
Don't be the carrier who starts an epidemic
infection of sin.
In addition, we are to avoid anything
that can potentially harm our relationship with
Christ. Don't risk letting sin enter your heart or
your life. Once God has set you free by the blood
of Christ, don't walk back into bondage. Your
salvation is too precious to treat carelessly.
Diligently guard your relationship with
God - and honor Him with your body, a temple of
the Spirit, so that your life brings Him glory.
[Being Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby]
ILLUSTRATION
Every now and then, it seems that my GPS
has a mind of its own. Ill be driving on the
freeway, going to a destination where Ive never
been before, and all of a sudden it tells me to
turn right at the next off-ramp. It doesnt
make sense, but I turn right. Then it tells me to
turn left, so I turn left. Then it brings me back
to the freeway. What was that all about? It
makes no sense at all.
The Lord gave the Israelites an amazing
GPS system: a fire by night and a cloud by day.
It was very simple. When the cloud moved, they
moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. At
night when the fire moved, they moved. When the
fire stopped, they stopped.
We might think, I wish I could have
that, because a lot of times I dont know what I
should do and where I should go. It would be so
easy.
As believers under the New Covenant, we
have something better than a cloud or a fire. We
have Christ Himself living in our hearts. This is
only for the Christian who has believed in Jesus
Christ. God takes residence in our hearts. We
dont need a fire in the sky. We have the fire of
the Holy Spirit in our lives, giving us the
power to do what God has called us to do.
The Lord will lead us in the way that He
wants us to go. Now, sometimes Gods will
doesnt make sense. Maybe we think God is trying to
ruin all our fun. But in time well realize
that God knew what He was talking about all
along.
A GPS isnt always right, but God is
always right. And Gods way is always the right
way. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
You are not your own, for you were bought
with a price. And that price was exorbitant - My
very Life! I went through excruciating pain and
humiliation as I sacrificed Myself for your sins. This
was a gift of infinite value - an act of
indescribable Love. However, only those who recognize
their sinfulness, their need for a Savior, can
receive this astonishing gift of Love. Hear My
invitation calling out: "Come to Me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Sin
is a terrible, crushing burden, but I have paid
the price in full to remove it from you forever.
When you awaken each morning, say to
yourself: "I am not my own. I belong to Jesus." Then
keep in mind Whose you are as you make your way
through the day, especially as you make plans and
decisions. Knowing that you belong to Me helps you keep
your feet on the path of Peace. This knowledge
meets deep-seated needs. You can find spiritual
and emotional security by remembering that you
are Mine - My beloved. (1Co. 6:19; Mat. 11:28;
Luke 1:76-79) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 - How Is Your Temple?:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190808-1015.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
