Considering Pentecost: We Are the Temple

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Pentecost begins today.

 Many Christians consider Pentecost as only a New Testament Holy Day.  However, it is one of the three pilgrim feast days, or appointed times of the Lord, outlined in the Pentateuch.  Leviticus 23:15-15: “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath (Passover) from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.”  Pentecost means “50 days.”

 

Jesus' disciples gathered in Jerusalem 50 days after His crucifixion in to offer a new grain offering for Pentecost.  Acts 2:1-4 ”When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” 

Fire from heaven had long been a sign of the presence of God with His people.  The Lord spoke to Moses from a burning bush.  Fire from heaven consumed the offering when the Tabernacle in the wilderness was completed.  The Israelites followed a pillar of fire by night as the Lord led them through that wilderness and into the Promised Land.  When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, again, fire from heaven consumed the sacrifice on the altar.

In the first century, the Temple in Jerusalem was soon to be destroyed by the Roman legions.  However, God had a better plan. He sent fire to rest upon each person gathered in that upper room.  God was present not only among the people, He was present within each person as well. 

Paul wrote the church in Corinth: “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? or you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:10-20).

Each of us houses the Temple of God in our bodies.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us.  Therefore, we must honor our God both in our bodies and in our spirits.

Peter encouraged: “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” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Together, believers are being built into a family, a household of priests with full access to the God who indwells us.  Understanding this, we cannot refrain from worshipping Him and glorifying Him even with our bodies. 

Then God’s fire upon the altar
Of my heart was set aflame;
I shall never cease to praise Him
Glory, glory to His Name!

(Margaret J. Harris)

For more about Pentecost see http://pastorlonnie70.blogspot.com/2015/05/events-of-pentecost.html  and http://pastorlonnie70.blogspot.com/2014/06/pentecost-our-jubilee.html