THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br> <br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE – 6-14-15<br> <br>



LESSON TITLE:  “YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD!”<br> <br>



WELCOME<br> <br>

      “IN THE BEGINNING - GOD - CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH!”  THIS MORNING, IT IS BEFORE THIS AWESOME, GREAT AND MIGHTY GOD WHICH WE ASSEMBLE - TO PRAISE, LAUD AND MAGNIFY HIS WONDROUS NAME!  AS WE BEGIN OUR HOMAGE TO HIM THIS MORNING, WILL YOU BOW WITH ME AND APPROACH HIS ALMIGHTY THRONE IN PRAYER!  <br> <br>

      PRAYER:  OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DAY AND THE MANY GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE - THE PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE TO BE CALLED YOUR CHILDREN AND TO KNOW THAT WE ARE OF THE FAITHFUL BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED IN YOUR WORD, THE BIBLE. HELP US THIS DAY TO LEARN A LOT AND TO APPLY THESE THINGS IN OUR LIFE THAT WE MIGHT WORK, NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL IN YOUR SIGHT, BUT THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THAT REWARD OF THE MANSION PREPARED FOR THE FAITHFUL IN THE END. ALL THESE THINGS WE KNOW ARE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT GIFT OF JESUS AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT GIFT. IN HIS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br> <br>

      WHAT A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR IT IS AS WE ARE ENJOYING THE SPRING WEATHER.  AFTER A COLD WINTER, IT IS NICE TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIES OF GOD’S CREATION.  WE CERTAINLY ARE A BLESSED PEOPLE AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD.   I HOPE WE ALL MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY DAY AND ENJOY THIS MOST SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR, AS THINGS ARE COMING TO LIFE AGAIN.  <br> <br>

      WITH THIS IN MIND, I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US AS THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.  WE TRULY ARE A BLESSED PEOPLE.    WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AT THIS TIME AS WE SING TOGETHER A SONG THAT SPEAKS OF A LAND WE WILL ENJOY.  THE NAME OF THE HYMN, “TO GOD BE THE GLORY!” <br> <br>

      

      

      DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br> <br>

      DON’T YOU JUST LOVE THE SONG WE JUST SANG?  IT CERTAINLY REMINDS US ALL OF WHY WE SHOULD LOVE GOD.  THE REALITY IS, HE HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR US AND HE HAS OFFERED A GREAT REWARD FOR THE FAITHFUL AT THE END OF TIME!  IN FACT, OUR GOD WAS WILLING TO GO SO FAR AS TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE - JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS.  NO DOUBT THIS IS WHAT JESUS WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, “GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE'S LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS,” JOHN 15:13!  <br> <br>

      HOWEVER, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON FOR A MOMENT THIS MORNING IS OUR RESPONSE TO THIS GREAT LOVE OF GOD!  HOW SHOULD WE REACT AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO SHOW GOD THAT WE TRULY LOVE HIM AND APPRECIATE WHAT HE HAS DONE.<br> <br>

      I THINK WE CAN FIND OUR ANSWER CLARIFIED IN ONE SHORT STATEMENT BY JESUS WHICH IS FOUND AS WELL IN JOHN, BUT IN CHAPTER 14:15. THERE WE READ, “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.”  DID YOU CATCH THAT?  THIS SURELY IS NOT HARD TO UNDERSTAND!  JESUS SAID THAT WE SHOW OUR TRUE LOVE TO HIM BY OBEYING WHAT HE HAS COMMANDED.  SO WHY IS IT THAT SO MANY HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME SIMPLY DOING THINGS JESUS WAY?    I WISH I KNEW OR HAD THE ANSWER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANKIND OF ALL AGES HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.   AND EVEN TODAY, WE STILL HAVE A HARD TIME JUST OBEYING GOD, THUS PROVING OUR LOVE TO HIM.  <br> <br>

      A FINAL VERSE I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER AT THIS TIME IS FOUND IN 1 JOHN 3:16.  THIS PASSAGE HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW FAR WE MUST BE WILLING TO GO IN OUR SERVICE FOR GOD!  THERE WE READ, “BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. AND WE ALSO OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN.”   YOU SEE THE ULTIMATE LOVE WE CAN DEMONSTRATE TO GOD IS A WILLINGNESS TO OBEY HIM EVEN UNTO DEATH.  BUT NOT ONLY A WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR HIS SAKE, BUT EVEN A WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR THE SAKE OF OUR BRETHREN.   OH, HOW MANY OF US NEED TO LEARN THE TRUE LOVE AND CARE WE MUST HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AS BRETHREN.  WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER, JUST AS MUCH AS WE LOVE OUR GOD.  AND BY THIS, NOT ONLY ARE WE KNOWN AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, BUT AS THOSE WHO TRULY LOVE OTHERS!   <br> <br>

      THIS MORNING, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE BROTHER KEVIN PATTERSON WITH US AS OUR GUEST SPEAKER OF THE DAY.  IT’S GREAT TO HAVE THIS GOOD BROTHER BACK FOR A VISIT, AFTER HE MOVED FROM THIS AREA A FEW YEARS AGO.  BROTHER KEVIN IS NOW THE MINISTER FOR THE SEBRING CHURCH OF CHRIST IN SEBRING, FLORIDA.  WE THANK HIM FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING AND IT’S GREAT TO HAVE HIM JOIN US AGAIN TO LEAD US IN THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD.  <br> <br>

      AS FAR AS OUR MAIN STUDY OF THE DAY, WE WILL CONCLUDING OUR DISCUSSION ENTITLED, “FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOURS.” OUR SPECIFIC MESSAGE OF THE MORNING WILL DEAL WITH THE STATEMENT, “YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD!”  SO PLEASE STAY WITH US THIS MORNING AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG TOGETHER, BROTHER PATTERSON WILL BE LEAD US IN OUR MAIN THOUGHTS OF THE DAY.   BUT FOR NOW LET’S JOIN TOGETHER IN OUR SECOND SONG OF THE MORNING.  THE NAME OF THIS HYMN, “THIS IS MY FATHER’S WORLD.”<br> <br>



LESSON<br> <br>

BY KEVIN PATTERSON<br> <br>

      GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US AS WE PREPARE TOGETHER TO WORSHIP GOD THROUGH A STUDY OF HIS MOST HOLY WORD. AND MAY I TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY AFTER A THREE-YEAR ABSENCE FROM THE PROGRAM THAT IT IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE AND A BLESSING TO BE BACK WITH YOU THIS MORNING. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO BROTHER RAY BEGAN A SERIES OF LESSONS FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 3:21 WHERE THE APOSTLE PAUL TOLD THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, “THEREFORE LET NO ONE BOAST IN MEN. FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOURS.” TODAY WE BRING IT TO A CONCLUSION THAT SERIES OF LESSONS AS WE EXAMINE FROM 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3, VERSES 16 AND 17 - YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD. AND THIS OF COURSE IS WHAT PAUL WAS DIRECTING TO THE SAVED, TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH. <br> <br>

      LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE TWO VERSES OF SCRIPTURE. THEY READ,  “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.” LET'S FOCUS ON THE FIRST PART OF VERSE 16 AS WE BEGIN THIS MORNING. PAUL ASKS THE QUESTION, “DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD?” CERTAINLY, WHEN I LOOK AT MYSELF, I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A TEMPLE BECAUSE I THINK OF MYSELF AS A HUMAN BODY WHERE AS A TEMPLE IS OFTEN SOME TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION - SOME KIND OF BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN ERECTED FOR SOME PURPOSE. BUT IF WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIBLE MEANS BY THE TERM TEMPLE AND HOW PAUL IS USING IT HERE, WE WILL SEE THE CONNECTION THAT GOD IS TRYING TO MAKE WITH US ON A VERY SPIRITUAL LEVEL. <br> <br>

      LET'S START BY TAKING A LOOK AT THE WORD TEMPLE. WHAT DOES THAT WORD MEAN? WELL, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT NEW UNGER'S BIBLE DICTIONARY IT WOULD GIVE YOU THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION - A TEMPLE IS A BUILDING SET APART FOR THE WORSHIP OF A DEITY. NOW OBVIOUSLY IN THE WORLD THERE ARE A LOT OF FALSE DEITIES THAT HAVE A LOT OF FALSE RELIGIONS SURROUNDING THEM. BUT CERTAINLY WHEN WE AS NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS ARE TALKING ABOUT DEITY WE REALIZE THAT THERE IS BUT ONE GOD AND HE IS THE ONLY DEITY IN EXISTENCE. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT BUILDING THAT IS ERECTED FOR THE PRAISE OR THE WORSHIP OF DEITY, PERHAPS IF WE WERE TO THINK ABOUT A FAMOUS TEMPLE, WE WOULD PERHAPS THINK OF THE MOST FAMOUS TEMPLE - AND THAT WAS THE TEMPLE THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED BY THE SON OF DAVID, KING SOLOMON. AND IN NELSON'S ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY, KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE IS DESCRIBED IN THIS WAY: GOD'S PRESENCE WAS MANIFESTED IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES OR THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE TEMPLE - IN A CLOUD OR AS A CLOUD. AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE TEMPLE, IT WAS PATTERNED AFTER THE TABERNACLE - A TEMPORARY PLACE OF WORSHIP TO GOD. BUT THE TEMPLE WAS A MORE PERMANENT PLACE AND AS A RESULT IT HAD A COURTYARD AND INSIDE IT THERE WERE TWO ROOMS; A HOLY PLACE AND A MOST HOLY PLACE. AND THERE IT WAS THE ESSENCE OF GOD OR GOD IN SOME FORM WHO WOULD MANIFEST HIMSELF ABOVE THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. <br> <br>

      IN 1 KINGS CHAPTER 8:6-7, WE READ THAT, “THE PRIESTS BROUGHT IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT OF THE LORD TO IT'S PLACE, INTO THE INNER SANCTUARY OF THE TEMPLE, TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE, UNDER THE WINGS OF THE CHERUBIM. FOR THE CHERUBIM SPREAD THEIR WINGS OVER THE PLACE OF THE ARK, AND THE CHERUBIM OVERSHADOWED THE ARK AND ITS POLES.”  NOW, WHEN THE TEMPLE WAS CONSTRUCTED AND WHEN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WAS BROUGHT INTO THAT MOST HOLY PLACE, WE READ WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AND IN 2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 7 AND THE FIRST FOUR VERSES WE READ, “WHEN SOLOMON HAD FINISHED PRAYING, FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICES; AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TEMPLE. AND THE PRIESTS COULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, BECAUSE THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAD FILLED THE LORD'S HOUSE. WHEN ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SAW HOW THE FIRE CAME DOWN, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD ON THE TEMPLE, THEY BOWED THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND ON THE PAVEMENT, AND WORSHIPED AND PRAISED THE LORD SAYING: ‘FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.’ THEN THE KING AND ALL THE PEOPLE OFFERED SACRIFICES BEFORE THE LORD.” SO THAT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF A PHYSICAL TEMPLE. <br> <br>

      BUT PAUL WOULD SAY TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH: DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD? WELL, AS MUCH AS WE ARE USE TO SOME OF THE VERY PHYSICAL AND SOME OF THE VERY VISUAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE SEE THINGS THAT ARE NOT QUITE AS VISUAL AND ARE CERTAINLY MUCH MORE SPIRITUAL. SO WHEN GOD LOOKS AT ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN OR WHEN HE LOOKS AT THE CHURCH COLLECTIVELY, AS PAUL WAS DOING WHEN HE WAS WRITING TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH, HE DESCRIBES US IN A SPIRITUAL SENSE THAT WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD. IN ESSENCE, WE ARE GOD'S DWELLING PLACE. IN 1 CORINTHIANS 3 AND VERSE 9 JUST A FEW VERSES BEFORE, PAUL SAYS, “FOR WE ARE GOD'S FELLOW WORKERS; YOU ARE GOD'S FIELD, YOU ARE GOD'S BUILDING,” SO HE IS DESCRIBING US AS A SPIRITUAL CONSTRUCTION. IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3 AND VERSE 9, THAT PASSAGE WE JUST READ, ADAM CLARK MADE THE FOLLOWING COMMENT. HE SAID YOU ARE GOD'S BUILDING. YOU ARE NOT ONLY THE FIELD WHICH GOD CULTIVATES BUT YOU ARE THE HOUSE WHICH GOD BUILDS AND IN WHICH HE INTENDS TO DWELL. AS NO MAN IN VIEWING A FINE BUILDING EXTOLS THE QUARRY MEN THAT DUG UP THE STONES, THE CURE THAT CUT AND SQUARED THEM, THE MASON THAT PLACED THEM IN THE WALL, THE WOODMAN THAT BOWED DOWN THE LUMBER, THE CARPENTER THAT SQUARED AND JOINTED IT...ETC., BUT THE ARCHITECT WHO PLANNED IT AND UNDER WHOSE DIRECTION THE WHOLE WORK WAS ACCOMPLISHED - SO NO MAN SHOULD CONSIDER PEOPLE LIKE PAUL OR APOLIS OR CEPHAS ANYTHING, BUT AS PERSONS EMPLOYED BY THE GREAT ARCHITECT TO FORM A BUILDING WHICH IS TO BECOME A HABITATION OF HIMSELF THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND THE DESIGN OF WHICH IS ENTIRELY HIS OWN. <br> <br>

      2 CHRONICLES 23 AND VERSE 6 READS, “BUT LET NO ONE COME INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD EXCEPT THE PRIESTS AND THOSE OF THE LEVITES WHO SERVE. THEY MAY GO IN, FOR THEY ARE HOLY; BUT ALL THE PEOPLE SHALL KEEP THE WATCH OF THE LORD.” WELL, IF THE PRIESTS WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT WERE ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES, HOW IS IT THAT I CAN BE A TEMPLE OF GOD TODAY? HOW CAN I SERVE HIM IN SUCH A CAPACITY NOT BEING A PRIEST? WELL, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT STATEMENT IS THAT IT'S INCORRECT BECAUSE ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE - ACCORDING TO GOD, A CHILD OF HIS IS A PRIEST. A CHRISTIAN IS A PART OF A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD. THE APOSTLE PETER WOULD ADDRESS THIS ROYAL PRIESTHOOD IN 1 PETER CHAPTER 2:4-10. AND IN VERSES 4 AND 5 IN PARTICULAR - PETER WOULD SAY, “COMING TO HIM AS TO A LIVING STONE, REJECTED INDEED BY MEN, BUT CHOSEN BY GOD AND PRECIOUS, YOU ALSO, AS LIVING STONES, ARE BEING BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” PETER WOULD ALSO SAY IN VERSES 9 AND 10, “BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT; WHO ONCE WERE NOT A PEOPLE BUT ARE NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD, WHO HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY BUT HAVE NOW OBTAINED MERCY.” IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD AROUND US WE SEE A LOT OF MISTAKES THAT ARE MADE AND OFTEN TIMES ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE WITHIN CERTAIN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE REFERRED TO INCORRECTLY AS PRIESTS. BUT ACCORDING TO GOD, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST - THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD, WE ARE OF THE ROYAL OR SPIRITUAL DESCENDENCY OF GOD HIMSELF AS HIS FOLLOWERS. AND SO AS SUCH WE ARE DESCRIBED AS A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY PEOPLE. <br> <br>

      WE ARE HOLY IN THE EYES OF GOD UNDER THE NEW COVENANT JUST LIKE THE PRIESTS FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI WERE CONSIDERED HOLY UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES. 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3:16, PART OF OUR MAIN THEME GOES BACK AND IT SAYS AFTER ESTABLISHING THAT WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD IT READS, “AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU.” NOW, VERY QUICKLY I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT INDEED, AS A CHRISTIAN, THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN US. THIS IS VERY CLEAR IN SCRIPTURE - ROMANS CHAPTER 8 AND VERSE 9 READS. “BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF INDEED THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU.” AND SO ONCE AGAIN, PAUL IS TALKING TO THE CHURCH AT ROME TO THE SAVED OF ROME. HE'S SUGGESTING TO THEM THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN THEM. BUT LET US MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SO ALSO DOES CHRIST AND THE FATHER. IN 2 CORINTHIANS 13 IN VERSE 5, WE ARE TAUGHT, “EXAMINE YOURSELVES AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH. TEST YOURSELVES.  DO YOU NOT KNOW YOURSELVES, THAT JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU? UNLESS INDEED YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED.”  AND ALSO IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 IN VERSE 6, “ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL.” SO WHEN A PERSON COMES TO CHRIST, WHEN A PERSON IS IMMERSED IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THEY RISE UP TO WALK A NEW LIFE. THEY ARE A NEW CREATION BORN AGAIN IN CHRIST. BUT WITHIN THAT CHILD OF GOD EXISTS NOT JUST THE HOLY SPIRIT - BUT THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. <br> <br>

      BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE PAUL IS TELLING THE CHURCH AT CORINTH THAT IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS DWELLING IN THEM. AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT REPRESENTS THAT TRUTH OF GOD. HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS INSPIRED SO MANY MEN TO WRITE DOWN THE RECORD AND THE WILL OF GOD FOR US SO WE HAVE GOD IN US. IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 AND VERSES 1-14, PAUL TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS THAT ARE ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST. HE TALKS ABOUT THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, HE TALKS ABOUT BEING ADOPTED AS SONS, HE TALKS ABOUT THAT ETERNAL INHERITANCE THAT WE GET TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN HEAVEN ONE DAY. BUT HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT HOW WE HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THAT THAT IS GIVEN TO US AS A SIGN OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO'S WE ARE. IN THE SECOND VERSE OF SCRIPTURE, 1 CORINTHIANS 3 AND VERSE 17, WE READ, “IF ANYONE DEFILES THE TEMPLE OF GOD, GOD WILL DESTROY HIM.” NOW, JESUS TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE IN HIS DAY. IN FACT, IN JOHN CHAPTER 2:13-17, WHEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE WERE TURNING THE TEMPLE INTO A PLACE OF BUSINESS, JESUS FASHIONED A WHIP OF CORDS - HE DROVE THEM OUT OF THE TEMPLE WITH THE SHEEP AND THE OXEN AND POURED OUT THE CHANGER'S MONEY AND OVERTURNED THE TABLES. AND HE SAID TO THOSE WHO SOLD THE DOVES, “TAKE THESE THINGS AWAY. DO NOT MAKE MY FATHER'S HOUSE A HOUSE OF MERCHANDISE. THEN HIS DISCIPLES REMEMBERED THAT IT WAS WRITTEN, ‘ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE HAS EATEN ME UP.’”<br> <br>

       WE SEE A VERY SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 21 AND VERSES 12 AND 13, WHERE HE ONCE AGAIN OVERTURNED THE TABLE OF THE MONEY CHANGERS AND THE SEATS OF THOSE WHO SOLD DOVES. AND HE SAID TO THEM, “IT IS WRITTEN, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER,’ BUT YOU'VE MADE IT A ‘DEN OF THIEVES.’” NOW, WHAT DO WE SEE HERE? WE SEE HERE THAT JESUS HAD NO PATIENTS. HE HAD NO ROOM WHATSOEVER FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD DEFILE THE TEMPLE OF GOD. WELL, AS WE ARE NOW THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AS WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, WE ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO DEFILE OURSELVES - OUR LIVES - OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD EITHER. WE ARE TO BE PURE AND HOLY IN HIS SIGHT. PAUL WOULD SAY A FEW CHAPTERS LATER IN 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 AND VERSES 15-20, “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! OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT HE WHO IS JOINED TO A HARLOT IS ONE BODY WITH HER? FOR THE TWO, HE SAYS SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. BUT HE WHO IS JOINED TO THE LORD IS ONE SPIRIT WITH HIM. FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY. EVERY SIN THAT A MAN DOES IS OUTSIDE THE BODY, BUT HE WHO COMMITS SEXUAL IMMORALITY SINS AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU? WHOM YOU HAVE FROM GOD AND YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? FOR YOU WERE BOUGHT AT A PRICE. THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.” <br> <br>

      YOU SEE, WHEN WE MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE ARE GOING TO TURN OUR BACK ON SIN, WE ARE GOING TO TURN OUR BACK ON SATAN, AND WE ARE GOING TO EMBRACE GODLY LIVING, AND WE ARE GOING TO EMBRACE CHRIST IN OUR LIVES - WHEN WE MAKE THAT DECISION TO COME IN CONTACT WITH JESUS' BLOOD AND WE ARE WASHED IN THAT BLOOD AND WE ARE CLEANSED IN THAT BLOOD, WE ARE MAKING THE DECISION TO TURN OUR LIVES OVER TO HIM. AND IN SO DOING, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NO LONGER OUR BODY. THIS IS CHRIST'S BODY. THIS IS THE LORD'S BODY. THIS IS GOD'S BODY, AND AS SUCH IT NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH A VERY SPECIAL CARE. PAUL WOULD SAY TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI IN PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9, “FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER 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. THE THINGS WHICH YOU LEARNED AND RECEIVED AND HEARD AND SAW IN ME, THESE DO, AND THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU.” THERE'S A FAMOUS PASSAGE IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 5 THAT TALKS ABOUT THE WORKS OF THE FLESH VERSUS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND WE CAN EITHER, IN LIFE GO ONE WAY, OR WE CAN GO ANOTHER WAY. WE CAN GO THE WAY OF THE FLESH - WE CAN PURSUE THE PATH OF SIN - OR WE CAN GO THE WAY OF GOD AND WE CAN WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THIS MORNING, IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN - BECOME A PART OF THE TEMPLE OF GOD. AND IF YOU ARE A PART OF THE TEMPLE OF GOD - BE PURE.<br> <br>



CLOSING COMMENTS<br> <br>

      LET ME THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US TODAY, IN THIS OFFERING TO GOD.  I HOPE OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT AND BLESSING TO ALL OF US.  WE INVITE YOU BACK EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS WORSHIP TO GOD!  <br> <br>

      BUT FOR NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON?  MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM?  POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSES?  NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br> <br>

The Living Word

2540 N. Kansas Expressway 

Springfield, Mo.  65803

<br> <br>

Many of these materials are also available on our website:  

That address is: www.thelivingwordprogram.com

<br> <br>

Or if you prefer, you may call us at:

(417)869-2284  <br> <br>

      WE ARE CERTAINLY BLESSED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE VERY DWELLING PLACE OF GOD.  THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU USING YOUR BODY IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRAISE GOD AND TO GIVE HIM THE GLORY IN ALL THINGS?  WHAT TYPE OF TEMPLE FOR GOD ARE YOU?<br> <br>