The Temple of God

​John 2:17 ~ “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”
 
Do you know the great passion the LORD has for the house of His Father? He is driven by love for the Father that all things pertaining to Him should be holy and righteous. There is no acceptance of anything that would taint the glory of the LORD nor anything that is acceptable that is not also consecrated to Him. The LORD Jesus, upon entering the house of God, found all manner of worldliness transpiring. It had become a market, with people buying and selling, and a great money exchange happening. John 2:14 describes it, “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.” The response of our LORD tells the tale. He was not merely somewhat frustrated, nor was He mildly disappointed, the LORD Jesus was zealous for the honor of His Father. So much was this zeal upon Him that He took drastic steps to clear the floor. John 2:15 tells us, “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.”
 
How about now? Today, no specific structure exists in Jerusalem where the nation of Israel gathers. No physical edifice remains that can be considered a temple to the LORD. Does that mean the zeal of the Son now grows cool as there is no “house” for God? On the contrary. There is now a different structure being built—a different house that is under construction. Hear the words of 1 Peter 2:5, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Not only is the church considered the “spiritual house,” we are also the temple of the Holy Spirit. Consider what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “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, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” We see in Revelation, chapters two and three, the LORD Jesus navigating through the churches, expressing His delight in their faithfulness to Him. But we also see in those two chapters the LORD exposing sins in the churches and commanding repentance. Zeal for the house of the LORD still consumes Him.
 
We will use the experience in the temple as an example for us. Within the temple, under the guise of providing the necessary elements for the sacrifice, all manner of worldliness and corruption took place. The high priest did not confront the wickedness within, nor did the various Scribes and Pharisees. The ruling council had little concern. Who should have cared about the worship of God, that it was holy and set for the honor of the Name of the Almighty? Should it not have been the people inside? Yet, it took Jesus with a whip to cleanse the temple and remove worldliness from within. So, let me ask you this: what will it take for Jesus to cleanse out of your heart all worldliness? He will have His bride purified, righteous and holy before His Father. And, as He did in the temple, He does still today in the lives of His people.
 
There are many who plead with the LORD to heal them. Often the prayers of the saints go up before God on behalf of their circumstances, that their way should be eased of difficulty. On occasion, the people of God will pray for the lost that they should be saved. All these, and many other prayers are of great value, and should continue to be voiced in our times of prayer. But who, reading this, can say that they have prayed for the LORD Jesus to come into their lives with a whip and drive out all wickedness from within? Many seek the comfort of God, but let us also desire the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the disciplining hand of the Almighty, we read in Hebrews 12:10, “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
 
But before the LORD takes such drastic measures to bring us to holiness, let us do as 2 Corinthians 7:1 entreats, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” I would have you read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 to understand the promises referenced in this text.
 
Do as the Apostles did, and remember that it is written, zeal for God’s house will consume the LORD Jesus. You are God’s house if you are born again, and He is consumed with a desire for your perfection, for your moving away from sin to righteousness and from wickedness to holiness. Out of love for Christ and in the fear of God, let us cleanse ourselves from all things that defile. May the same zeal for holiness consume us as well.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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