THE TEMPLE OF PRAYER
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
These are unprecedented times. I would have never thought that I’d live to see our nation, our world, in “lock down” mode, that we’d be unable to come together to worship in our churches, that our church buildings would be empty, that the Good News is that we know that is NOT where God lives!
In the Old Testament, God appeared to His people—the Israelites—are a pillar of cloud by day and as a pillar of fire by night to lead them through the wilderness. Moses was instructed to build a Tabernacle and Solomon a beautiful temple, symbolizing God’s promise to “dwell among the Israelites and be their God” (Exodus 29:45).
We know God no longer resides in a physical temple, behind the curtain in the Holy of Holies. We know that as we recently celebrated Easter as well as Good Friday, by His death on the cross, Jesus tore that curtain! That not only gives us access to a holy God, but actually makes our bodies, His temple, as living stones!
"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-6).
Through Christ, from the New Testament until today, He opens the way to God. We are His chosen people too and He reveals Himself by being in us through the Holy Spirit!
Consider these verses from God’s Word:
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
"According to the grace of God, which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11).
"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
The Lord is our foundation.
He is building us up, individually but also together, united as the body of Christ. We are His chosen vessels to complete His will on earth. Are others seeing us as God’s temple, His glory? As living stones, are we serving and using our bodies for His glory? Is my body a temple of prayer?
If you’re reading this I say, yes! Yes, you are!
Thank you for joining us in prayer as Luis and Andrew and the Palau team are being living stones for the sake of the gospel! God is dwelling in them and in us so that our lives can display Him to the world. Through our everyday acts of obedience and through prayer, God’s glory shines out to others through us by the Holy Spirit living in us! God’s glory shines out through LPA as they proclaim the gospel to those who are lost and in need of the Good News.
They are busier more now than ever as they unify to build up the body of Christ through hopewithgod.com. Check it out!
Please open the reports below and pray for Jesus to always be our and LPA’s cornerstone. To use us and LPA as living stones for His glory.
In the Power and Incense of Prayer,
Gail Stockamp
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
PRAYER REPORTS
Please enjoy opening the regional updates below and keeping them in your prayers:
Africa | Pray for health and safety during these uncertain times | Report
Asia | Pray for continued relationships and possible outreach at Christmas | Report
North America | The first-ever strategic online festival | Report
Europe | Postponed plans but a new spirit for the Gospel in Europe is steady | Report
Latin America | Planning future events in Central & South America | Report
The Caribbean | Pray for open doors and peace after disasters | Report