Temple
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town
31st July 2022

Steps towards becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit.
This passage in 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 reveals those steps quite clearly:
“Or do you not know that unrighteous individuals will not inherit God’s kingdom? Stop being deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor those who are of a voluptuous nature, given to the gratification of sensual, immoral appetites, neither men who are guilty of sexual intercourse with members of their own sex, nor thieves, nor those who are always greedy to have more than they possess, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit God’s kingdom. And these things you were, certain ones of you.
But you bathed yourselves clean [from sin in the fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins], but you were set apart for God, but you were made righteous in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Later he writes:
“Or do you not know that your body is an inner sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were purchased at a price. Now therefore, glorify God in your body.

Four steps to becoming a temple of the Holy Spirit:
1. Bathed in his blood
2. Set Apart for God
3. Made righteous in Jesus’ name
4. Continually made righteous by the indwelling Spirit of God

What is a temple made for? To Worship the God of the temple. If the allegiance is wrong, the temple is misused or even abused. If, however, you pledge your allegiance to the proper Lord of the temple, the full potential and functionality of the inner sanctuary is achieved and it becomes glorious.

1. The blood of Jesus is the initial cleanser of the temple. His blood washes away our sins and it is the righteous requirement of the law or the remission of sins.
Jesus presented his blood as a perfect sacrifice, because He who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
2Co 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2. Being set apart for God is a privilege. 1Pe 2:5 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.
Exo 13:12 that you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD’s.
Psa 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
H6395 pâlâh [pronounced: paw-law’]
A primitive root; to distinguish (literally or figuratively): – put a difference, show marvellous, separate, set apart, sever, make wonderfully
This speaks to me of setting apart time for the Lord, every day. Of honouring the gathering of the saints, of taking a restful Sabbath and setting apart family time to serve God together. Coming to church regularly is setting aprart your family for God. Setting apart a portion of your talents for the use of God is also holy. Setting apart of finances to further the advance of God’s kingdom in the earth sanctifies our finances and allows God’s Spirit to infuse our investments and businesses with his glory.

3. Faith in His name makes us righteousness.
Act_4:10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Act_4:30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Act_8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Rom_10:13 For “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”
Php_2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
Php_2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
1Jn_3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Rev 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Rev_19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Rev_19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

4. The Holy Spirit continues the process of making us a temple of God
Joh_14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
Joh_14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Joh_15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Joh_16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.