When God's presence reveals itself in our world, His presence is evident. The manifestation of His presence stands in contrast to the absence of His presence. When the tabernacle and its furnishings were completed, God's presence filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34, 35). When the first Jerusalem temple was completed, God's presence filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10, 11). In Israel's wilderness travels, God's tabernacle presence provided guidance (Exodus 40:36-38). In the temple, God's presence assured people they had access [in a powerful way] to God's concern (see 1 Kings 8:22-53). God's presence always benefited [benefits] His people.
In Old Testament periods and into the early New Testament period, God's presence manifested itself in a sacred place. God's people yielded to God's will because His presence was among them in a sacred place [tabernacle or temple]. In the wilderness, Israel knew when to and not to travel by the actions of God's presence. With the temple, Israel knew God would hear their petitions because His presence was in that temple. These three things were of key importance: a people, a sacred place, and God's presence. God's presence was in a sacred place. God's people came to the sacred place to approach His presence.
The time would come when God's presence manifested itself in His people, not in a sacred place. The Jewish prophet Joel foresaw the day when God lived in His people instead of a sacred place (Joel 2:28-32). When that time came, Israel would know God was among them. They would know He alone was the Lord God without peer or rival. They would know His people would never be put to shame (see Joel 2:27).
What would be unique about this day of the Lord? God would pour His Spirit out on all people. God's presence would no longer manifest itself in a sacred place, but in His people. God's people would not come to a sacred place to approach His presence. His presence would be in them. A sacred place would not be his temple. His people would be His temple.
Paul understood. He boldly stated to Christians at Corinth that their division could not be justified. They [collectively] were God's temple (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17). God's Spirit lived [dwelled] in them. Any Christian who destroyed God's temple would be destroyed.
To these same Christians at Corinth, Paul applied this same understanding to the individual Christian. It was [and is] unthinkable that the Christian individual could take his [her] body that belongs to Christ and sexually unite it with a prostitute (1 Corinthians 6:15-20). Had they forgotten that the Christian's body is the Holy Spirit's temple? God placed the Holy Spirit in the Christian. God purchased the Christian to make him [her] His temple.
Peter understood. He reminded Christians in numerous Roman provinces (1 Peter 1:1) they were God's precious living stones built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:4, 5). They were God's temple. God's presence was in them.
When did this transition from sacred place to sacred people occur? When did God begin to pour His Spirit out on all people? When did God begin to make His people His temple instead of a sacred place His temple? Peter declared this occurrence began when the resurrected Jesus was publicly presented as Savior, Lord, and Christ (Acts 2:14-36). When people placed their confidence in Jesus as God's Christ, committed to a redirection of life, and were immersed, two things happened (Acts 2:38). Perfect forgiveness began in a new form. The Holy Spirit was given to those who entered the Christ (also see Acts 5:32).
A combination of three factors often blinds Christians to these two facts: (a) Christians are God's temple, and (b) the Holy Spirit is God's presence in Christians. The three factors are: (1) fear reactions to Pentecostal expressions; (2) the study of verses out of their context; and (3) poor understandings of the Spirit. Christians tend to relate the Spirit's work with unusual occurrences.
In the context of Ephesians 4, how could these Christians cause the Spirit to experience grief? If their daily lifestyle mimicked an idol worshipper's lifestyle, they grieved the Spirit. What lifestyles grieved the Spirit? Futile thinking that rejected God's thoughts; nurturing ignorance; and hard-heartedness grieved the Spirit. Surrendering life to sensual satisfaction and greed grieved the Spirit. They also grieved the Spirit when they lied (deceived), allowed anger to control them, and hurt others with their words.
The Spirit's objective in the Christian is to move him [her] closer to God. The process of transformation that began with immersion into Christ directs the person toward the fullness of Christ. The Spirit works in the Christian to make him [her] less and less like evil and more and more like God. Christians who move closer and closer to God [encouraging the Spirit] renew the spirit of their minds; put on the new self that wants God as a Father; are kind; are tender hearted; are forgiving; and make God's work in Christ their model.
The contrast is seen in Ephesians 4:17-32. Christians who move closer and closer to evil [grieving the Spirit] resist understandings that come from God; are ignorant of God's ways; are hard-hearted; are given to sensuality and greed; are ruled by physical desires; are deceitful; are controlled by anger; are exploiters of others; and use their words to hurt others. When a Christian grows toward evil, he [she] actually struggles against the Spirit.
When Christians refuse to cooperate with the Spirit's efforts to move closer to God, they grieve the Spirit. Godly character and integrity want to work with the Spirit. Christians do not want to make the Spirit's work in their lives more difficult. Christians desire to be more like God. We seek this by coming as close to God as we can.
Thought Questions:
Thought question # 1: as the Spirit works within us to move us closer and closer to God, in what ways can we grieve the Spirit? Explain why your suggested mind sets and actions cause the Spirit to grieve.
Thought question # 2: as the Spirit works within us to move us closer and closer to God, in what ways can we encourage the Spirit? Explain why the Spirit would find encouragement in your suggested mind sets and actions.
Thought question # 3: when a Christian is immersed into Christ, is he or she, for the rest of his or her earthly existence, "on your own?" Explain your answer.
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 12