Those Who Work In The Temple

1 Corinthians 9:11-13 - If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?


2 Corinthians 6:3-10 – We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Numbers 18:12 - All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.

Application:

· Do I love others? Am I ready to surrender my rights because of this love?
· Do I live an exemplary life? If not, my ministry may be discredited.
· Do I pay those who minister the word of God suitably for their work?

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

God's Temple

1 Corinthians 3:14-16 - If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?


1 Corinthians 6:19 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

2 Corinthians 6:16 - What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Hebrews 3:5-6 - Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Application:

· I am part of God’s church; God’s Spirit lives in me
· Do I value my body as a sacred place where God dwells? Do I realize that I can be helped against immorality by God’s Spirit?
· Have I formed unholy alliances with unbelievers?
· Am I part of God’s house? Am I persevering?

All Scripture verses taken from ESV