Awakening to Our Divine Purpose as God's Temples

Devotional

Day 1: You Are the Temple of God

God’s presence no longer dwells in buildings or distant places, but in the hearts of those who have been redeemed by Christ; every believer is now the very dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, called to live out this reality in daily life and to let the world see the glory of God through them. This truth is not just a theological idea but a living commission—God has strategically placed each of His people in unique spheres of influence so that His presence can be sensed and known wherever they go. The call is not to retreat into religious isolation, but to be accessible, visible, and transformative in the world, allowing heaven and earth to meet in the lives of ordinary people. [06:22]

1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Reflection: Where has God strategically placed you this week, and how can you intentionally let others sense the presence of Christ through your words, actions, and attitude in that place?

Day 2: Redemption Is Not Just About You

Redemption is not merely a personal experience or a ticket to heaven; it is an invitation to participate in God’s ongoing redemptive plan for the world, to be a vessel through which His love and salvation reach others. The story of salvation began before the foundation of the world, and every believer is called to step into this story—not to sit passively in church, but to actively glorify God and serve His purposes wherever they are. The Christian life is not about self-serving religion or spiritual complacency, but about being caught up in the mission of God, living for His glory and the good of others. [10:36]

Ephesians 1:4-7 (ESV)
Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Reflection: In what ways have you made redemption about yourself, and how can you shift your focus this week to participate more fully in God’s redemptive plan for others?

Day 3: Pride Affects the Whole Body

A little pride or self-serving attitude in the life of a believer does not just impact the individual, but the entire community of faith; when we are puffed up, we block others from seeing Jesus and hinder the movement of God’s Spirit among us. The call is to humility and self-examination, recognizing that our actions and attitudes have a ripple effect on the body of Christ. We are not isolated individuals, but members of one loaf, and our pride can keep others from experiencing the fullness of God’s presence. [22:54]

1 Corinthians 5:6 (ESV)
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Reflection: Is there an area of pride or self-importance in your life that might be affecting your family, church, or workplace? What step can you take today to humble yourself and let Christ be seen more clearly through you?

Day 4: You Are Commissioned and Empowered

Every believer is not only saved but also commissioned and equipped with the Spirit and the armor of God to love Him fully and to love others sacrificially; we are called to live out our faith in community, not in isolation or self-ambition. God has given each of us grace gifts and a unique calling, and He desires that we use them to serve, build up, and reach those around us. Our happiness and peace are not found in circumstances, but in knowing who we are in Christ and living out our calling with boldness and humility. [18:57]

Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Reflection: What is one grace gift or calling God has given you that you have not fully embraced or used for His glory? How can you step out in faith to serve others with it this week?

Day 5: The World Needs to See Christ in You

Most people may never open a Bible or step into a church, but they will encounter the living Christ through the lives of believers who carry His presence into everyday places; you are the hope of Christ in your home, workplace, and community. God has not called His people to be unreachable or set apart in isolation, but to be accessible, visible, and transformative—living temples through whom others can sense and experience the love and power of God. No one is insignificant; every believer is placed by God to shine His light and draw others to Him. [32:22]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reflection: Who is one person in your daily life who may never read the Bible but will “read” Christ through you? How can you intentionally show them the love and presence of Jesus this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on a question Paul asked the Corinthian church repeatedly: “Do you not know?” This is not a rebuke, but a divine commission—a call to awaken to the deeper realities of our faith. Many believers have been taught that Christianity is simply about salvation, but there is so much more. God’s purpose for us is not just to save us, but to fill us with His Spirit, to make us His temple, and to commission us into His redemptive plan for the world. From Eden to the tabernacle, from Christ Himself to the outpouring at Pentecost, God has always desired a place for His presence to dwell. Now, through Christ, that place is us. We are the temples of God, strategically placed in our communities, families, and workplaces to reveal His glory.

Paul’s words remind us that being born again is not the finish line, but the starting point. The Spirit of God now resides in us, transforming us from the inside out, calling us to maturity, unity, and purpose. Our lives are not our own; we have been bought with a price. The gifts and callings we receive are not for self-glorification or religious pride, but for service, sacrifice, and the building up of the whole body. Pride, division, and self-serving attitudes hinder the movement of God’s Spirit, not just in us, but in the entire community. We are called to deflate our egos, to examine ourselves, and to remember that our actions affect the whole.

God’s redemptive plan is not about isolation or religious separation, as seen in the example of the monks who built unreachable monasteries. Instead, God places His temples—us—right in the midst of the world, where people can encounter His presence through us. Most people will never open a Bible, but they will encounter the living God when they meet His people. Each of us is strategically placed, not by accident, but by divine design, to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus wherever we are. Our calling is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love others as ourselves, allowing the Spirit to work through us for the sake of God’s glory and the redemption of the world.

Key Takeaways

1. The Christian life is more than personal salvation; it is a call to participate in God’s ongoing redemptive story. We are not just saved from something, but saved for something—namely, to be vessels of God’s presence and agents of His mission in the world. This means our faith must move beyond self-focus to embrace God’s greater purpose for our lives. [10:36]
2. Being the temple of God means that heaven and earth meet in us. God’s Spirit does not dwell in buildings or religious systems, but in the hearts of His people. Wherever we go, we carry the presence of God, and our daily lives become sacred spaces where others can encounter Him. [12:10]
3. Pride and self-centeredness are not just personal issues; they affect the entire body of Christ. When we are “puffed up,” we block others from seeing Jesus in us and hinder the Spirit’s work in our communities. True spiritual maturity is marked by humility, self-examination, and a willingness to serve others for the sake of the whole. [22:54]
4. Our calling is not to retreat from the world, but to be strategically placed within it. Like living temples, we are set in neighborhoods, workplaces, and families so that people who may never read the Bible can still encounter the reality of God through us. Our influence is not accidental; it is God’s intentional design for His mission. [32:22]
5. The authority and power we have in Christ are not for our own benefit, but for the advancement of God’s kingdom. We are called to judge rightly, to walk in holiness, and to exercise spiritual authority over darkness—not by our own strength, but by the Spirit who dwells within us. This requires ongoing repentance, surrender, and a commitment to live for God’s glory above all else. [26:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:57] - The Natural Man vs. The Spiritual Man
[04:31] - The Joy of Spiritual Maturity
[06:22] - Divisions and the Call to Unity
[10:36] - Redemption: More Than Personal Salvation
[12:10] - The Temple of God: From Eden to Us
[15:15] - Pentecost and the Scattering of the Church
[16:34] - Strategic Placement of God’s Temples
[18:57] - The Challenge of Loving Others
[20:41] - Redemption Is Not About Us
[22:54] - The Danger of Pride and Affecting the Whole
[25:26] - Our Future Role: Judging the World and Angels
[26:19] - Spiritual Authority and Responsibility
[27:05] - Lessons from Meteora: Not a City on a Hill
[32:22] - God’s Presence in Everyday Places
[33:32] - The Spirit’s Power in Every Circumstance
[34:30] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) —
> Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

> 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.

- Acts 2:1-4 (ESV)

> When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested 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.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, what does Paul say about the identity and purpose of believers?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between the “natural man” and the “spiritual man”? ([01:57])
What examples from the Old Testament and New Testament does the sermon give to show where God’s presence has dwelled? ([12:10])
What does Paul warn about pride and being “puffed up” in the church? ([22:54])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul repeat the question “Do you not know?” to the Corinthian church, and what is he trying to awaken in them? ([10:36])
What does it mean for believers to be “the temple of God” in practical, everyday life? ([16:34])
How does pride or self-centeredness in one believer affect the whole church community, according to the sermon? ([22:54])
Why does the pastor say that being born again is not the finish line, but the starting point? ([10:36])

Application Questions

The sermon says that most people will never open a Bible, but they will encounter God through His people. Where has God strategically placed you (work, family, neighborhood), and how can you be more intentional about showing God’s presence there? ([32:22])
The pastor warns that pride and self-serving attitudes can block others from seeing Jesus in us. Can you think of a recent time when your pride may have affected someone else’s view of Christ? What would it look like to “deflate your ego” in that situation? ([22:54])
The message challenges us to move beyond just “being saved” to participating in God’s redemptive plan. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to serve or sacrifice for others? ([10:36])
The sermon mentions that our gifts and callings are not for self-glorification but for building up the body. Are you using your gifts to serve others, or have you been holding back? What is one step you can take this week to use your gifts for God’s glory? ([10:36])
The pastor talks about the danger of religious isolation, like the monks in Meteora. Are there ways you have separated yourself from the world instead of being a light in it? What would it look like to be more present and available to those around you? ([27:05])
The Spirit of God is said to empower us to love others, even when it’s hard. Is there someone in your life right now who is difficult to love? What is one practical thing you can do this week to show them Christ’s love? ([18:57])
The sermon says, “Our lives are not our own; we have been bought with a price.” Is there an area of your life where you are still living for yourself? What would surrender look like in that area? ([20:41])

Sermon Clips

God's going to use you as a temple, brother, wherever he strategically places you. Because you know what? The world's not coming to our churches. Thank God. But God filled me. He filled you. And he's got a call for you to leave the comfort of a church community where we can come together and celebrate through testimony and the word and worship. It's glorious when we come together. It's a great feeling being in here. But again, you're a temple. [00:17:25] (35 seconds) #SentAsTemples

You're more than just saved and sitting here. You're commissioned. You have the armor of God. You have the spirit of God. Everything you need, every tool in your toolbox is here. And you have a call and commission to love God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul. And a call to love others. [00:19:45] (23 seconds) #CommissionedToLove

Young people, listen to me. Some of you are radically getting saved. And your parents aren't saved. If you're listening, I don't know. But you're getting saved for a reason. So you can be the light of Christ in your home. Because if dad's pushing away. And mom's pushing away. And God wants that temple to rise up. He wants everybody to see him. And he's placed the Spirit of God in you. And he's placed you on a high hill. And you're saying the high hill is a church. No, it's not a church setting. It's not a special setting. It's wherever God wants to illuminate his light so somebody can come to Christ too. Amen. That's the reason you're here. [00:21:09] (37 seconds) #LightOnTheHill

You're not your own. You've been bought with a price. Do you not know that you're a temple of God? And do you not know that your life is not isolated from the whole? If you, as a born -again believer, are part of a congregational setting or even in the kingdom of God, the family of God, and you are prideful and puffed up, whatever that may be and however how that may look, all of us have an issue with it. We need help deflating that balloon at times, amen? But if you're that person, you're affecting the whole. You're affecting the whole. It's not just about you getting what you want. You're affecting the whole loaf. [00:24:30] (40 seconds) #BoughtNotOwned

You are the temple of God and these spirits have no place in your life. You have the power, the anointing of a risen king in you. You have a cloud of witnesses behind you and we have all authority through him. It's without excuse we stand. [00:27:40] (16 seconds) #JudgingWithChrist

``God is very strategic where He's placed you. And there's not one insignificant person that's sitting here under my voice that God hasn't strategically placed you in a sphere that you have lived in your whole life. And you're saying there's no hope here. You are the hope through Jesus Christ. You are there for a reason. And again, understand this. You are the temple of God. God, you don't need the preacher. You don't need the church structure. We need accountability and responsibility to the whole. But you have the one source that raised Christ Jesus from the grave residing within you. That whatever circumstance comes into your life, the Spirit of God can lift you up above any circumstance and show you and reveal to you and I who we are in King Jesus. Can I get an amen? [00:33:08] (57 seconds) #PresenceInTheOrdinary

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