"There's more to s*x than mere skin on skin. s*x is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, 'The two become one.' Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of s*x that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever-the kind of s*x that can never 'become one.' There is a sense in which s*xual sins are different from all others. In s*xual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for 'becoming one' with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place [a TEMPLE], 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."---I Corinthians 6:16-20 (Message)
"Every man is a builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones."---Henry David Thoreau
Temple: an edifice or place dedicated to the service or worship of a deity or deities; an edifice erected as a place of public worship; a church, esp. a large or imposing one; any place or object in which God dwells, as the body of a Christian; something regarded as having within it a divine presence; a building reserved for a highly valued function
Synonyms: cathedral, chapel, church, holy place, house (of God, prayer), place of worship, sanctuary, synagogue, tabernacle
It's gonna be a little longer again, but it's worth it (I think). Here we go!
For several months now, it has been in me to refer to the people/relationships in my life as "temple", "inner court" and "outer court". Now from the moment it came into my psyche, I was diggin' it because it was providing me with a clear directive (and confirmation) when it comes to setting better boundaries. I mean, I am called to love everyone (I John 4:7), but that doesn't mean that it has to (or should) be expressed exactly the same way to each person. I love my mother...I love my brother...I love LaShawn Williams (love my egg, girl! Thanks!). The foundation is the same (I Corinthians 13), but that doesn't mean that I express it the same way to all of them. I mean, I wish I would "love on" my (future) husband like I do my cousin Gerard--- c'mon now, that would be really gross!
Yeah, that might seem a bit extreme, but I think if we really embraced (and expanded) this perspective, it would spare a lot of us a lot of heartache. Not committing (physical) incest should be a no-brainer, but how many people actually consider the fact that NO ONE is supposed to receive "s*x temple" privileges unless they are in covenant with one another (in marriage---Hebrews 13:4)? Being that we are all brothers and sisters IN CHRIST (Matthew 12:50, Romans 14:9-11), and being that marriage is what makes "two" one (Matthew 19:4-6) with God's blessing (I Corinthians 6:16), I've said it before and I will say it again: it seems to me that fornication and adultery are a lot like committing spiritual incest, right? RIGHT?!?
But, this message actually isn't about s*x. Although I will say that the longer I am abstinent, the more I see just how invaluable I am...how a man really should earn (Matthew 13:45-46) the right to the access of this very holy and beautiful place/space (Psalm 139:14). I mean, Christ shed his blood so that I could be restored to my original state (purity) and so I wouldn't have to be "slaves of men" (I Corinthians 7:23). CHRIST DIED to gain full temple access and all a man has to do is honor some 90-day rule??? Uh-uh!!! Yet while I could further elaborate (and you all know that I can!), what the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to share with you (Luke 12:12) is the importance of placement privileges.
In biblical times, in the tabernacles, there was a Holy Place (Exodus 40:26) and a Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:3-4). When it comes to the Most Holy area, according to an article that I recently read, "Judging from its name, we can see that it was a most sacred room, a place no ordinary person could enter. It was God's special dwelling place in the midst of His people."
Now, when I sit and think about the fact that the Bible says that the Holy Spirit lives in MY BODY and that he esteems it as temple worthy to live in (a humbling thought within itself!), it does cause me to wonder why, for years, I really did let just any "ordinary person" into a space that is deemed so sacred. Now again, I am not speaking (just) s*xually (although if the shoe fits, please rock it), but how our entire human trinity---mind, body, spirit---should be seen and treated as special and sacred.
Sacred: devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated; entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy; regarded with reverence; secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right; properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office
Synonyms: blessed, cherished, dedicated, defended, devoted, divine, godly, guarded, hallowed, pure, revered, sanctified, secure, shielded, spiritual, unprofane, venerable
Do you see it? Do you get it? Don't you love it?!? First, we need to start treating ourselves as "blessed", "cherished" and "pure" (and can some people get "SECURE" up in here, please?!?), but once we come to that revelation, we should unapologetically set up our own "veils" preventing "just anyone" from coming into our most holy spaces...of our time...our emotions...our resources...our friendship...ourselves.
My "learned the hard way experiences" have been that you can't treat something as sacred until you become sacred. You can't expect a man to treat you like you're pure when he's profane. You can't expect a woman to be devoted to you when she lays (did you know "lay" was an antonym of "sacred"?) up with other folks. You can't expect a person to defend, guard and shield you when they don't do that for themselves (if you wanna know how a person feels about themselves, watch how they treat others).
I get it...now. One year into my abstinence journey, I was spending so much time healing from the wounds (Psalm 147:3) that I wasn't ready to receive this kind of revelation. Oh, but right before entering year two, God started reminding me of the kind of temple that I was, that the Holy Spirit dwelled in it (shout out to the friend of mine who describes masturbation as "assaulting the Holy Spirit"...a sobering thought, indeed!), and that people needed to be of a certain level in (spiritual) stature and character to gain access to such a CHERISHED space.
Because I am called to love everyone, I don't refuse anyone from being in my outer court (unless God instructs me to). "Outer court" people have earned, just by being a child of God, courtesy, respect, spirit-led assistance and prayer. My "inner court" people, by being individuals who continually exemplify not just a love for God, but an instinctive and distinctive love for me (in word and deed-I John 3:18), they have earned the right to quality (high grade, superior) time and care.
Oh, but the temple? Let me tell you something about the temple: If that is where the Holy Spirit dwells, you can best believe that ain't just anybody rolling up in my most divine space; the place that is most venerable!
Just today, I was talking to someone about a sacrificial seed that I planted into her life. When she commented on how she couldn't believe it I said, "You are a 'temple' friend...you earned it." That woman prays for me, feeds me (literally), forgives me, protects me, defends me, supports me, accepts me, affirms me and encourages me on a CONSISTENT basis. And, she's done it for YEARS....even when I wasn't doing it for myself (or to her). She treats me as BLESSED and so, as sacred is defined, I am going to treat her as BLESSED in return. Not everyone would get that kind of treatment because not everyone has earned that right...and that's OK. There's nothing wrong with being "outer" or "inner"...everything has its place and purpose (Ecclesiastes 3). I'm just learning how to better discern what those places (and purposes) are. And, I think, with the help of this message, God is encouraging you to do the same.
1) Begin to acknowledge yourself as a holy place...the place where the Holy Spirit lives.
2) Treat yourself daily as someone who is "dedicated" and "devoted" to honoring oneself.
3) Get clear on how close people should get to that sacred space.
4) Ask God to categorize your "outer", "inner" and "temple" people for you (trust me, HE WILL).
5) Live by the motto, "Privileges are earned based on the level of responsibilities performed. Love all. Reward accordingly."
When people walk into a church/synagogue/mosque, there is a certain level of reverence. You can't just do or saying anything up in there. It's revered as holy, hallowed and blessed. The Bible tells us that WE ARE TEMPLES; therefore we shouldn't settle for anything less than some edifice does. We should be seen (and treated) as having a DIVINE presence as well...as something "anointed", "beautiful", "magnificent", and "wonderful".
Sound a little over-the-top? Get over it. According to my Bible, to think this way is not a sign of arrogance, but a demonstration of obedience. When people see a temple, they need to act accordingly, whether on the "outer court"...the "inner court"...or (lucky them)...the temple.
It's the place of a highly-valued function, right? Treat it as such.
Amen and amen.
Tabernacle reference:
http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com/tabern... ©Shellie R. Warren/2009
Posted By: The SISTAHS Ministry
Tuesday, April 14th 2009 at 11:11AM
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