TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:16
Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. In the first part of the Bible, there is talk of the temple and that God dwells in the Holy of Holies. Through Jesus, God now dwells in you and me – isn’t that fantastic?
When Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem for the first time, he started to throw out everything he didn’t like.
Fasting is not only a time in which the intestines and thus the body purify themselves, it is also a time of the purification of your spiritual temple.
Have you noticed that the time of fasting is a kind of reinforcement? Sometimes we discover during fasting that we are more impatient and ill-tempered than we would actually like to be, and character traits emerge in us which we actually do not like at all.
At the same time, we become much more sensitive to the gentle speaking of the Holy Spirit.
When I myself fasted for several weeks for the first time, I hoped for major spiritual breakthroughs. I expected signs and wonders, healings and conversions. Instead, I woke up one day and saw points in my life where I behaved lovelessly and manipulatively in conflicts. God showed me blind spots in situations where, up until now, I had believed myself to be completely in the right. At first, I was almost disappointed, as I had expected completely different results. I wanted to do great things for God, and instead, he held up a mirror to me. But then I became grateful. It is so difficult to discover one’s own blind spots.
King David himself prayed: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
Prayer, Get Free & Next Step:
Engage in dialogue with God and ask Him to search you and your temple. Are there perhaps one or several corners that should be tidied up? Where anger may still reside? What makes God happy in your temple and what delights Him?
If you think about your body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, then you can also ask yourself how comfortable the Spirit of God feels inside of you. Consciously take time now; close your eyes and become aware of your body. Feel your hands, your legs, and take a deep breath, observing your breathing. Listen to your heartbeat.
Prayer Points
Thank the Lord for allowing you to participate in this year’s 21 days of prayer and fasting.
1 John 1:9 – Confess any known and unknown sins.
Praise the Lord for bringing you and your household into the year 2023.
1 Kings 18:46 – Continue to ask God for special grace and strength to sustain and keep you during this fasting season.
Psalm 139:23&24 - “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (pray this earnestly)
2 Corinthians 6:16 – God almighty, I thank You that Your Spirit lives within me. Lord, continue to make my heart Your home. (gratefully praise Him)
2 Corinthians 6:16 – Lord for every participant of this fast, continue to make their hearts Your home beyond this fasting season; remove any hindrances in their lives in Jesus’ name.
2 Corinthians 6:16 – Father, let my life and that of all the participants be a showcase of Your presence wherever we are. (pray this earnestly)
2 Corinthians 6:16 – According to Your word, live and walk amongst us. (PPT households and the church)
Matt 15:13 – Father, uproot anything in my life that You have not planted. (pray this earnestly)
Matt 15:13 – Father, uproot anything from the lives of all the participants and PPT households that You have not planted.
Lord, use this fast to purify our bodies physically and spiritually for the Holy Spirit to continue to dwell in us.
Pray for the PPT missionaries and the persecuted church.
Pray about 4 things you would want God to do for you during this 21-day fast.
Prayer Declaration
If it had not been you, Jehovah Ebenezer, our helper on my side, where would I be? Your grace and mercy brought me through 2022 and now I have seen 2023. Father, I am thankful and appreciate all that You have done for me, my household, PPT households and the church.
Oh Lord, as we wait on you through intense prayers and fasting this month, let me, my household, and PPT experience “open heavens” creating spiritual opportunities resulting in having dominion over our lives (health, career, relationships, and finances).
I declare and decree that every spiritual valley in and around my life will be filled with an overflow of Jehovah’s blessings. I declare and decree that every spiritual mountain and hill in my way, in my family’s way, in PPT households’ way will be brought low in Jesus’ name.
I declare and decree that every spiritual crooked place in and around my life will be made straight by your power. I declare and decree that every spiritual rough way in my pathway, in my family’s pathway, PPT households’ pathway and the church’s pathway will be smooth.
I affirm that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this. So shall it be.
Group prayer at 8:00 pm tonight.
Conference Call
Dial: 647-977-2648 (Canada) / 202-602-1295 (USA)
Code: 827-220-552#