Exposing Your Temple to the Enemy
“Temple (noun) - a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of a god or gods or other objects of religious reverence.”
God has brought to my attention certain things about myself and I have no problem sharing what’s been revealed to me, and maybe see if you’re going through a similar season or if you got through that season. This may even be something that could happen when we aren’t as vigilant as we should be. What I want to touch on has been very key in revealing how strong my discernment is at the moment and also revealing what areas I’m weak in for the season I’m in.
If you have not noticed, or hopefully you have, God is exposing a lot and it can be about other people and also about our own individual selves. But we have the choice to do whatever we want with whatever information God reveals to us and how He chooses to reveal it to us. This is where I find it’s important to have a relationship that is constantly developing and growing and evolving with Jesus Christ.
God pointed me to various scriptures, one of them being 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and the English Standard Version (ESV) says “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
And the Message (MSG) Version of that scripture says “Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.”
In this section of my ESV Bible, it says these verses fall under what is called “Flee Sexual Immorality” which it is targeting sexual intimacy and sexual immorality, but then I look at 1 Corinthians 10:31 and it states “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I then realize 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 1 Corinthians 10:31 really do go hand in hand, and it’s like adding more to it. I just thought it was really cool how the Bible can connect in that way and reveal different things at different times.
Adding to the verses in 1 Corinthians, I then look at Ephesians 6:10-18 and it says:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, “
Pretty much that whole section is talking about the “Whole Armor of God”. Isn't it interesting that you need specific pieces of armor for specific parts of your body to protect you in this illustration? Think of the different sports and how each sport has equipment beneficial to their sport. Like you wouldn’t wear cleats on a basketball court or wear a football helmet in a hockey match. Each piece of equipment is designed to protect or aid the person playing the specific sport.
The body is a temple housing the Holy Spirit. Protect it.
Sometimes we can be pretty nonchalant when we think of our body outside of how society views us. God has been challenging me to break this down because we can really leave openings in our body for the enemy to get in if we’re not fully in tune with the Holy Spirit housed in us. I really needed to look at what I’m exposing to the enemy.
Ears
Think of Your ears? Who are you allowing to speak into your life? Doesn’t matter if they’ve been your friend for years, if they’re family, if they have a title, or if what they’re saying sounds good at that moment. Are you sure what they said came from God? Are you sure what they’re saying is truly meant to bring peace into your life or speak life over you? Is what that person even said or what you’re listening to even said out of love?
Mouth
Think of your mouth. What are you saying to people, what are you saying about people, or even what are you saying about yourself? Are you speaking life or death because the Bible says that life and death is in the power of the tongue in Proverbs 18:21.
Nose
Think of your nose. Do certain fragrances and scents cause triggers that take you to places that you haven’t allowed the Lord to deal with? If you’ve been abused, does the smell of something cause you to become depressed, or if you just got out of a relationship that wasn’t good for you, does the smell of his cologne or her perfume bring up certain emotions within you.
Eyes
Think of your eyes. Have you realized you’ve been watching a specific type of tv series that causes certain emotions to well up. Are you staring at men or women for too long? Or maybe if you struggle with a food addiction, are you looking at that cake lustfully?
Hands
Think of your hands? Did you use your hands to abuse yourself or abuse someone else?
How you present yourself.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to wear nice things or there’s nothing wrong with self-care like doing your nails, doing your hair, getting facials, stuff like that because your body is a temple and we need to take care of not only the inside but the outside as well, but is what you’re doing for God or for man?
What is your why: going, doing, and speaking.
Take a look at what your ‘why’ is when you go somewhere, do something, speak, partake in something. Do you ask yourself will this glorify God? Maybe the Holy Spirit is telling you to get out of a situation or leave somewhere. And do you have your armor up if you’re in a situation where maybe you can’t control certain things because that does happen. Are you in constant communication with the Holy Spirit?
These are just a few of the things God has been revealing to me and just challenging me for the season I’m in. As well as, reminding me that if I say I’m a follower of Christ, I can’t only look like it on the outside or when people are around to see me.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”
With Jesus saying that there are true worshippers, it also alludes that there are false worshippers. I had to really ask myself where do I fall in this because there is not a gray area. That’s not to say that we won’t make mistakes because we’re human and imperfect. The only perfect person is Jesus, but with repentance and acknowledging our shortcomings we can recognize that Jesus paid for it all.
Every part of our body belongs to God and should be used as God intended: to worship and glorify Him. When we think of a temple, we think of it as a place of worship. Going back to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, every part of your body should glorify God.
Think of the blessings God has in store for you because they are unimaginable and really ask yourself do I need to change something up with my routine, do I need to let certain things go, do I need to bring certain things in. I don’t know your situation or the logistics of what you have going on, if it’s difficult to let people go or leave a certain environment because things may be way more complicated than most people think, but God can bring people into your life who are intentional about you getting closer to Him and who want to see you grow.
Anything that you need God will provide for you. So go to Him and ask Him to reveal those areas that you’re weak in. That you’ve allowed the enemy to kind of sneak his way through. Ask Him what needs to be removed and He’ll tell you. Just open yourself up to receiving that information. He knows what’s best and He can bless you before you even know how to ask for something.
I’ll leave us with this question: What are you exposing your temple to?
