The body is the temple of God's Holy Spirit, entrusted to us as the first deposit on eternal life. Each individual who makes up the church is a temple of God's Spirit, a profound responsibility that underscores the importance of caring for our physical selves. We are reminded that Christian liberty is not a license to do as we please, and we must consider the effects on our body. As we are bought with a price, under the blood of Jesus Christ, we owe God much more than others, and this debt compels us to glorify God in our body. Taking care of our body is vital, not only to avoid spiritual and physical dangers but to honor the sacred presence of God's Spirit within us. We must be responsible to God, educating ourselves to avoid carelessly making ourselves sick, ensuring that we maintain the temple entrusted to us.

In this exploration of the stewardship of our physical bodies, which are the temples of God's Holy Spirit, we recognize the profound importance of sleep and rest. God Almighty, the author of both sleep and rest, modeled resting on the Sabbath for mankind, establishing a connection between sleep and creativity from the very beginning, as seen when He placed Adam into a deep sleep to form Eve. The Sabbath rest, while ceasing physical work, initiates spiritual work, reflecting the unseen reality of spiritual creation through the physical process of sleep. God created all creatures to require sleep for a healthy life, and disregarding this need has drastic physical and emotional effects. Studies warn that even one night with less than six hours of sleep may alter genes and cause side effects like increased susceptibility to illness and loss of brain tissue. The psalmist David regarded sleep as a blessing and an article of faith in the Lord's protection, a trust mirrored by Jesus Christ, who slept through a turbulent storm, confident in His Father's care. If we ignorantly flaunt God's health laws, mimicking the world's habits, we cannot escape the consequences of self-inflicted physical abuse. For 6,000 years, humanity has cheated itself of God's Sabbath rest and robbed the sleep bank that God mandates we steward. The consequences of sleep deprivation, though not immediately apparent, insidiously affect mood, performance, and health over time, impacting education, work, family, and social life. Disastrous effects of cumulative sleep deprivation include daytime drowsiness, microsleeps, unintended sleep seizures, mood shifts, stress, anxiety, reduced immunity, weight gain, feelings of lethargy, and diminished productivity in cognitive and motor skills. God has determined that we spend approximately one-third of our lives in slumber and one-seventh keeping His sanctified Sabbaths, and attempting to cheat on this sleep-bank by imitating the world's misguided behaviors will lead us to reap the same curses and diseases as the world.

In the stewardship of our physical bodies, which are the temples of God's precious Holy Spirit, we recognize the profound connection between physical and spiritual health. Our bodies, as temples, are to be tended and kept pure, reflecting the indwelling of God's Spirit. The process of fasting serves as a vital means of cleansing these temples, both physically and spiritually, by removing harmful elements and allowing for renewal. Fasting, by restricting food intake, enables the body to cleanse itself of toxins and waste, much like a house-cleaning day for our physical temple. This physical purification mirrors a spiritual process, where we purge the old, corrupt nature and replace it with godly character, empowered by God's Holy Spirit. As we fast, we take a stand against fleshly pulls and the influences of satan the devil, submitting to God and allowing Him to draw near, renewing us with a fresh reserve of His Spirit. This renewal, akin to the physical process of autophagy where old cells are replaced with new, reflects a spiritual transformation. Through fasting, we tear down old habit patterns that enslave us, making way for spiritual growth and the building of holy character in partnership with our Heavenly Father. As described in Scripture, this process involves mortifying the deeds of the flesh and renovating the mind to align with God's will, ensuring that our bodies remain fitting temples for His Spirit. Ultimately, fasting not only benefits the physical temple by promoting health and vitality but also prepares the spiritual temple for eternity. As we engage in this discipline, we acknowledge our dependency on God, allowing Him to transform our mortal bodies into vessels of His righteousness, continually renewed by His Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Your body is the temple, the very sanctuary of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received as a Gift from God. You are not your own; you were bought with a price, purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. How we treat our bodies demonstrates our loyalty to our Creator and our desire to follow His holy law, which includes physical laws regarding eating, drinking, and exercising. The cause of sickness is the breaking of physical laws set in motion to govern the operation of our human bodies, and the penalty for breaking them is pain, sickness, or possibly even death. As stewards of God's holy temple, we must realize that living exclusively for the present, with the sole focus on satisfying our tissue needs, is idolatry and sin, risking the forfeiture of our future for fleeting joys of today. We have a birthright to protect, far greater than any material possession, and must struggle mightily to preserve this incalculable blessing as God's firstfruits.

In this fourth installment of The Stewardship of God's Temple, we focus on the tending and keeping of our physical bodies, which are indeed the temples of God's Holy Spirit. God Almighty has blessed us with the free gift of life-sustaining water, a vital emblem of His Holy Spirit. From the time of Creation, water has been inextricably connected with God's Holy Spirit, serving as its most important symbol. As God's chosen people, we are mandated to exercise stewardship over this gift that He has bestowed upon us. The Lord who made us has promised to quench both physical and spiritual thirst for the descendants of Jacob, tying the physical and spiritual realities together, identifying His vital role as conduits for the fountain of living waters.

Our bodies belong to God, and He has entrusted their care to us as a stewardship responsibility to glorify Him in both body and spirit. What we do to our bodies either supports or betrays our worship of Christ, as God created man in His image as a bodily being, declaring it very good. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and in Him the fullness of God dwelled, showing that our bodies have a noble purpose to aspire to His image, glorifying God in our physical form. Care of the body is akin to tending to what is least, yet it is vital, for being faithful in little things demonstrates readiness for greater responsibilities. Neglecting this stewardship, allowing our bodies to deteriorate, is tantamount to willful sabotage of His precious physical creation. Building strong and resilient bodies requires effort, but it is worthwhile, especially in an age where stagnation threatens our physical well-being, reflecting our commitment to prosper in health as our spirit prospers.

Our physical bodies are the temples of God's Holy Spirit, and tending to them through proper exposure to sunshine, fresh air, and cleanliness reflects vital spiritual principles. God Almighty has ordained that the lessons we learn from caring for our bodies—ensuring they receive adequate sunlight and fresh air, maintaining hygiene through regular bathing, and keeping our surroundings tidy—offer insights into achieving spiritual purity and developing godly character. Just as sunlight symbolizes the radiance and glory of God, fresh air represents the breath of life, prefiguring the Holy Spirit as the essence of our future glorified bodies. Cleanliness mirrors the purity of God's character, which He is forming in us through the sanctification process, a deep spiritual cleansing we undergo on our lifelong journey. By obeying God's physical health laws, we honor the temple of His Holy Spirit and prepare for the ultimate transformation into His divine offspring.

In this concluding focus on the Stewardship of God's Temple, our physical bodies are recognized as the temples of God's Holy Spirit, a sacred receptacle for godly character. We must diligently guard our hearts and minds, for they are impregnated by God's Holy Spirit, shaping who we are and what we may become through what we continually think about. The scriptures urge us to jealously protect what enters our minds, as we ultimately transform into what we assimilate. The Holy Spirit, identified as the Spirit of Truth, dwells in the minds of sanctified believers, displacing the natural carnal mind that is hostile to God and His spiritual law. This Spirit, the very mind of Christ, is available to all of God's chosen saints who submit to His will and keep His commandments. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, after His sacrifice, became Our High Priest, able to sympathize with our weaknesses, and promised that if anyone loves Him and keeps His word, He and Our Father will make their home with them. Through systematic daily meditation, we ingest, assimilate, and digest the precious Word of God, mirroring the godly character of Jesus Christ. This process nourishes our emergent spiritual body, renewing our inner self day by day, even as our outer self wastes away. Our behavior during this rigorous sanctification should be guided solely by the mind of Christ, a mind that has already conquered the world, empowering us to remain single-minded about His Coming Kingdom and His holy law, which is being written into our minds.

The concept of the body as the temple of God's Holy Spirit is a profound privilege and responsibility. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that the Church is a holy temple of the Lord, built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. This signifies that God dwells within us, taking up His abode in the innermost sanctuary of His people, surpassing even the intimate relationship of a child to a father. As Paul states, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in us, urging us to glorify God in our bodies and minds by producing a true witness of His way of life. This dual role extends to the Church as a family, setting an example and upholding God's name in all interactions. Paul warns against sins of the body, reinforcing that such actions defile the sacred dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This teaching underscores the vital, living nature of the Church as a spiritual house, where each member is a living stone, carefully fitted together by God into His holy temple.

Our bodies are vessels for God's Spirit, and through this Spirit, He and the Son dwell within us. Once we enter the New Covenant with Him, He grants us His Spirit, and They come to abide with us. As They are remarkably holy, the holiest beings in the universe, we bear a responsibility to present a fitting abode for Them within us. Though we are far from holy on our own, we must strive to be as holy as They are, imitating Their example until we can achieve it ourselves. We must ensure our bodies are in the best condition possible, not for righteousness or a higher place in the Kingdom, but because a healthy body enables us to perform spiritual and righteous acts more effectively. Especially at the Feast, a concentrated time of worship, fellowship, eating, drinking, and various activities, we must take care of ourselves. These intense periods can sometimes push us over the edge, leading to illness, so we need to be vigilant. To maintain our health during the Feast, we should get enough rest by setting a consistent bedtime and sticking to it, as late-night fellowship can impair our readiness for services. We must avoid foods that our bodies react adversely to and maintain a balanced diet, indulging sparingly to appreciate it more. If alcohol causes issues, we should forgo it to ensure we can fully participate in Feast activities. We must also be cautious with physical activities, avoiding those beyond our capabilities to prevent injuries that could hinder our Feast experience. Additionally, we should maintain our health regimens, such as taking walks, exercising, or simply breathing fresh air to stay active and rested. By taking care of our bodies through proper sleep, nutrition, and suitable activities, we ensure that health does not become an issue, allowing us to get the most out of the Feast. Thus, a key step to having a great Feast is to prioritize the care of our bodies, recognizing them as temples of God's Holy Spirit.

Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Today, God's children are the temple of the living God. Under the New Covenant, God lives in His children, having taken up a dwelling place in them. His Most Holy Place is in His elect children; therefore, we should keep our bodies pure both physically and spiritually, just as He instructed the Israelites to keep His Temple and Tabernacle undefiled while He dwelt there. Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. For us to eat unclean things is a spiritual sin that defiles the temple of the living God. We are holy, and we are charged by God to keep ourselves holy, because He is holy.

In the journey of faith, the body of a believer is not merely flesh and blood but a sacred dwelling place for God's Holy Spirit. As Paul declares in I Corinthians 6:19-20, "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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." This profound truth underscores that believers do not own themselves; they are God's, and their bodies and minds are for His use. When Jesus came to earth, He claimed His body as God's temple, and after His ascension, He promised that God would dwell within those who believe in Him, as seen in John 14:16-17. This indwelling transforms the purpose of the believer's life. Paul emphasizes in Philippians 1:20 that Christ will be magnified in the body, whether by life or by death, reflecting an unwavering confidence that God's will is perfect and must be honored in every aspect of existence. To magnify Christ, every part of the body must be surrendered to Him—eyes must be guarded against temptation, tongues must speak righteousness, and minds must be filled with God's truth. This surrender is a living sacrifice, as urged in Romans 12:1, where believers are called to present their bodies as holy and acceptable to God, which is their reasonable service. Moreover, God's presence is not confined to physical structures or organizations but is seen in the lives of those who are spiritual members of His church. As Paul reminded the Greeks in Acts 17:24-25, God does not live in temples built by hands but dwells in converted individuals through His Spirit. Thus, honoring God in the body and mind becomes the true expression of His glory, a commitment that extends to all actions, whether in daily routines or in the face of trials, ensuring that Christ is magnified in every moment of life.

Good health is a vital concern, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions of life. The body is a remarkable creation of God, and neglecting or abusing it sends a poor signal to Him. As stated in I Corinthians 6:20, we are urged to glorify God in our body and spirit, for they belong to Him. When we maintain good health, we are better equipped to express godly love and concern for others, rather than being preoccupied with our own discomfort. Thus, preserving our health becomes a duty, aligning with physical morality and the standards of right conduct, ensuring we honor God through the care of our bodies.

God's purpose for us is to become Kings and Priests under Jesus Christ in His Kingdom, and as part of this preparation, we are called to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation. As temples of God's Holy Spirit, we are designated as holy, reflecting our position through His calling. I Corinthians 3:17 declares that if anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and we are that temple. Similarly, Hebrews 3:1 addresses us as holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, urging us to consider Christ Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. This designation of holiness is not merely a title but a call to maintain purity, as II Corinthians 6:16-18 emphasizes that we are the temple of the living God, with God dwelling in us and walking among us. He calls us to come out from among the unclean and be separate, promising to be a Father to us as we strive for holiness. II Corinthians 7:1 further instructs us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. A temple must be kept clean because God lives in it, and He demands that we avoid the filth of carnality or close association with the world, ensuring that our lives reflect His presence. The pursuit of holiness is essential, as Hebrews 12:14 states that without holiness, no one will see the Lord. This is not just a condition of our calling but a growth process, requiring us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, implementing His desires and purposes in our lives as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Thus, as temples of God's Holy Spirit, we are challenged to maintain purity and separation, striving to reflect His holiness through our conduct and relationship with Him.

Jesus Christ spoke profoundly in John 2:19-22, declaring, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Though the Jews misunderstood Him, thinking He referred to the physical Temple, He was speaking of the temple of His body. This statement, deemed blasphemous by His accusers, contributed to His crucifixion, as they mocked Him with it even at the cross in Matthew 27:38-44. After His resurrection, it became clear that He Himself would be the central focus of worship, replacing the material Temple as the dwelling place of God. In John 4:16-26, Jesus further revealed to the Samaritan woman that worship would no longer be confined to a specific location like Jerusalem or the Temple. He declared that true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth, emphasizing that God is Spirit. As the Messiah standing before her, He signified that He is the true center of worship, responsive and knowing, unlike an unfeeling building. This truth extends to us through passages like Ephesians 1:15-23 and Ephesians 2:19-22, where Paul explains that upon conversion, we are placed in Christ, becoming part of His body, the church. This body is described as a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. As Christ is the Temple, we too, being in Him, are part of this spiritual temple central to the worship of God. In II Corinthians 6:16, it is affirmed that we are the temple of the living God, with God promising to dwell in us and walk among us, establishing us as His people. This profound reality ties us directly to Christ, the Head of this temple, and as part of Him, we share in His priesthood, with His work becoming our work, both now and into eternity, as seen in Revelation 14:1-5, where we follow the Lamb wherever He goes.

We are the temple of God, carrying a profound relationship with Christ that sets us apart from the Israelites of old. Unlike them, who were barred from entering the Temple or Tabernacle and withheld from God's direct presence, we have been invited into His presence through Jesus Christ. The ordinary Israelite could not approach God directly, and even the priests had limited access, with the high priest entering the Holy of Holies only once a year. Yet, we can speak to Him at any moment, whether in prayer on our knees, while walking, or in any circumstance. He is always available for conversation with us because of what Christ accomplished, dwelling within us as His Spirit remains ever-present. We do not need to go to a specific place to find Him, for as His children, His Spirit abides with us constantly. This close enabling empowers us to overcome difficulties and meet the requirements of faithfulness, always near at hand to support us in our responsibilities.

The apostle John warns that to deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh carries grave consequences, including the denial of the possibility that the body can ever become the temple of the Holy Spirit. False teachers, influenced by the spirit of the antichrist, propagated the belief that the body and spirit are separate, allowing sin in the body while claiming spiritual purity. Such teachings reject the intimate union between God and man, asserting that if the body is inherently evil, true communion with God is impossible while man remains in the flesh. Yet, John emphasizes that Jesus Christ, having come in the flesh, demonstrated communion with His Father as a man on earth, filled with the full measure of the Holy Spirit. This reality affirms that our bodies, as part of our whole being, can indeed be vessels for God's Spirit through faith in Him.

The concept of the body as the temple of God's Holy Spirit reveals a profound shift in the manifestation of God's glory. No longer confined to a physical temple or the Holy of Holies between the Cherubim, God's glory now resides within us. As stated, we are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us. This intimate presence means that God's Spirit is not merely with us, but within us, marking a closeness that transforms our very being. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit calls for a response of separation from the world and a rejection of unclean practices. We are urged to come out from among them, to be separate, and to refrain from touching what is unclean, so that God will receive us as His sons and daughters. Furthermore, we are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. This process involves not just ceasing to do wrong, but actively pursuing righteousness and growing in it, reflecting God's character through our actions. The presence of God's Spirit within us offers the hope of glory, as Christ in us is the foundation of this transformation. Through His Spirit, we are being transformed into His image, moving from one degree of glory to another, in an ever-increasing process of glorification. This ongoing journey, empowered by His Spirit, enables us to show a likeness to God, displaying His character as permanent experiential righteousness in our lives. As we walk in this way, imitating Christ, we manifest God's glory, becoming recognizable as His children through our obedience and behavior.

The concept of the body as the temple of God's Holy Spirit emerges in the discussion of Jesus' statement in John 2:19, where He speaks of destroying the temple and raising it in three days. In this context, the word "temple" translates from the Greek "naos," which signifies the dwelling place of a deity, used metaphorically in the New Testament to represent the bodies of believers. Unlike the Jews who understood it as a physical building, Jesus referred to His Body, symbolizing the church. The instant God the Father raised Jesus from the dead, the church—the body in which God dwells—became an accomplished fact, with Jesus Christ as its first Member and Head. Thus, Jesus' statement reflects a parable-like truth about His nature and the future, indicating that His physical body at that time represented the extent of His church, being its sole member until His resurrection, after which He raised a body of believers, the true Temple of God, of which we are part.

Sickness is part of the human condition, and we must recognize our responsibility in caring for our bodies. If we have not been treating the temple of God's Holy Spirit properly, whether by overworking, neglecting proper nutrition, skipping meals, overindulging in unhealthy foods, avoiding moderate exercise, or carrying excess weight, then we need to take action. Repentance requires change, and we must make the necessary adjustments to show God that we have learned our lesson and desire to please Him by living healthfully. While God offers mercy and healing, He cannot repent for us; it is our duty to bear down and change with His help.

In I Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul uses the term temple as a synonym for the church, illustrating that each believer, as part of this spiritual body, impacts its overall quality by how they live. Each member bears a personal responsibility to maintain spiritual health, as God holds them accountable for actions that could harm the holiness of the church, which belongs to Him and is set apart from the world. This responsibility extends to the physical care of our bodies, as emphasized in I Corinthians 6:15-20, where Paul confirms that we are temples of God's Holy Spirit. Since we belong to God and are integral parts of the body of Christ, caring for our physical health is tied to the sanctification process, promoting growth, overcoming challenges, and glorifying God. Neglecting this duty, whether through ignorance or disregard, undermines our witness and relationship with Him. Thus, we must strive to maintain both spiritual and physical health to honor God in all aspects of life.

Our responsibility to God, once we are called, is to live by faith and to use our time to seek Him in order to come to know Him. In this relationship, we face a constantly diminishing amount of time, bringing us closer to a scarcity that ends either with our death or Christ's return. The Bible carries a strong sense of urgency within its pages, urging us to live in the present while never forgetting the future, allowing it to dominate how we make choices now. As a perfect storm regarding health issues builds, with the air, water, and food becoming increasingly defiled, we cannot ignore the warnings if we fear God. He has given us a charge, reflected in I Corinthians 6:19-20, which states, "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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." How can we glorify God in our body if we are knowingly feeding it poison? If we fear God, we cannot walk away from this challenge as though it means nothing. Facing the reality that we cannot meet this challenge on our own, the solution lies in our relationship with Jesus Christ.