Nougat 4

I’m not my own, I belong to Jesus; I’m not my own – I belong to Him. He bled and died on Calvary; I’m not my own, I belong to Him

A bold declaration in song. Also a reminder rooted in Scripture. Please receive today’s Holy Nougat

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,”. 1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT

A temple is … a place of worship; a dwelling place of a deity. In fact, in the context of our Nougats, a temple speaks to the Holiest of spaces within the temple; specially consecrated for priests only and the offering of sacrifices. We are thus not only God’s property; but we are also the conduits in which God’s Spirit dwells and operates. Furthermore, we are both individually and collectively God’s temple, so we are also interconnected in our function.

For me, this is a clear reminder that we are stronger together; not in our strength (for that usually breeds division), but by the power of God’s Spirit working with us, in us, and through us.

God works With Us … our frailties, our foibles and our strengths; to realize our full potential for the giftings we have. Because it’s With Us, God’s Spirit WILL move only as far as we seek to go. Far too often, that’s not as far as God would have us go.

God Spirit works In Us to ensure our hearts remain wholesome enough (and holy enough) to be the dwelling place of our God. We are tended within and we are pruned, fertilized and nourished so that the Fruit of God’s Spirit is evident.

God’s Spirit works Through Us for God’s glory. When Jesus, the Light of the World, radiates from us, God’s glory is evident to everyone. And while Jesus is seen through Fruit of the Spirit in our lifestyle; God’s Spirit strengthens the visibility through the Giftings of the Spirit.

This manifestation of God’s Spirit is often misunderstood; especially since it carries the Most visible and tangible sign of God’s power. I say that because we know that the currency of power is that which people crave, follow and even try to counterfeit. Yes indeedy. What the enemy of our souls then tries to do, is neutralize our power by establishing cheap imitations of the Gift of God’s Spirit, glut our spaces with those in an effort to discredit and devalue the Real Deal.

But

Today’s Holy Nougat tells us – God created each of us with the capacity to be the space, individually and collectively, where God’s Spirit dwells. We ARE the Temple of God’s Spirit. We are NOT God; God’s Spirit lives In Us and wishes to work With Us and Through Us. All for God’s glory! Do we dare to experience the fullness of the Gift? Lord, it’s our hearts’ desire to be more, to do more in Your name. Hear us and transform us we pray in Jesus name amen

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May all we seek be found in Christ