Build Up the Temple

The Spirit calls to me this morning. I have been on a personal journey, surveying what may well be called the "ruins", symbolic of lives shattered by trials. The Holy One calls me to read His Word of indictment spoken through the prophet Haggai.

The heat is up under all of God's people as well as the world we inhabit for yet a while longer. Truly there is a new world coming, but for now, we live in a fallen one and are subject to painful trials.

The Lord spoke to His people in the days of Haggai and I hear Him speaking to us today as well. The Lord was asking them to give careful thought to their ways, their life choices, and their priorities. The people of God then, as many are today, were compromised and conflicted.

This is a call to give priority to the One True God we are called to honor, worship and obey. The Lord speaks to us and says, "give careful thought to your ways". "Is it a time for you to be living in your paneled houses while the house, (God's Temple) remains a ruin?"

Since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior, the Savior of the world of those who believe,our bodies have become the temple of our God. Our hearts have become the "Holiest of Holies", the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and His Throne of authority and power within.

But seriously, how many of us give thought to our ways when we focus on the outward adornment of our lives represented by the physical while the temple of Holiness within remains a ruin?

We rise up each and every morning pressured to do the bidding of our bodies and the world around us, while the Holy Spirit is ignored and left out of our daily choices, decisions, and activities.

What a mistake and Oh how we suffer for it. God's Word says, "you expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the Lord Almighty, because of My house that remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."

The symbolism is really so clear. And as the Word through Haggai continues, God said to His people then, "I am with you". When the remnant of His people began to connect the dots, and recognize the correlation between their sinful attitude and a defeated life, they stood in fear I.E. worship of their Holy God. The Lord was then pleased to move and scripture says, He "stirred up" the Spirit of the remnant to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God.

At this turning point, the ancient people of our Holy God were given the promise of blessing as they obeyed His Word to them, giving priority to His Temple and His Presence in their lives.

It was a call to Holiness
It was a call to prioritize the Lord and His Glory
It was a call to return to covenant and obey their end of the contract

God is speaking the same message to you and I today.

We need to focus on the temple of His Holiness.
We need to do that which builds up His dwelling place within.
We need to bring Honor and Glory to the Lord God Almighty as the priority of our lives.
We need to learn from our circumstances and not fear or become discouraged only "work".

"Be strong for I am with you", says the Lord God of the universe. "A time is coming (or may well be here) when I will once more shake the heavens and the earth and I will fill this House with Glory" (the Glory of His Presence). "The glory of this present house with be greater than the glory of the former house and in this place I will grant peace."

For those of us who believe, the Holy Spirit is the indwelling Glory of the Lord Himself. As we work on making the Holy Place of God's Presence (His Temple/our Bodies)a fit habitation through our obedience and yieldedness to His Will, He will be Glorified and we will flow in the gracious peace that only God Himself can provide.

The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?