Adorning The Temple
We can see now that God's priesthood has spiritual work That goes far beyond what the Levites spent hours of their days performing. We've talked about how today's temple is built and cleansed. Now let's look at some scriptures concerning how the temple is to be adorned. 'Adorn' means to “'decorate', add to the attractiveness by dress or ornaments.” (Webster's)
Here are a few things that we, as the temple of God, are to 'put on', and things we are to 'put off'.
Rom. 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore CAST OFF the works of darkness, and let us PUT ON the armour of light.” (emphasis mine)
The Greek words for 'cast off' are aposunagogos (ap-os-oon-ag'-o-gos;); “excommunicated:-(put) out of the synagogue (-s), and apotithemi, (ap-ot-eeth'-ay-mee); “to put away (lit. or fig. ...)” (Strong's).
This verse tells us what to take off before we dress ourselves with that which our temple should be adorned. The works of darkness must first be excommunicated, which means , “to expel or eject from the church by censure, ... (Webster's) A synagogue was a Jewish place of worship. To expel is to “drive or force out or away” (Webster's). So, we must take definite authority over the works of darkness and force it away from the place of worship, which is the temple, OUR BODY.
The Greek word for 'put' is enduo (en-doo'-o); “ (in the sense of sinking into a garment”); to invest with clothing (lit. or fig.) ...” (Strong's). We are to put on, and wear, the armour of light. Jesus himself is that light.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Rom. 13:14 “But PUT YE ON the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (emphasis mine)
First and foremost, we we must put on Jesus, the armour of light. However, this is more than mere decoration. The Greek word for 'armour' in Rom. 13:12 is, hoplon, (hop'-lon); “an implement or utensil or tool (lit. or fig., espec. offensive for war): armour, instrument, weapon” (Strong's). This clothing that we are to put on will definitely not please the enemy of our soul.
Satan hates to have the light of truth come shining where he has been busy deceiving with his lies. This is very offensive and can be very detrimental to his cause. When the light shines in darkness, evil can be seen for what it is. So, the armour of light is not only beautiful, but it is a comfort and strength to the wearer, and an offensive weapon against our enemy as well. IT IS JESUS CHRIST himself!!
Gal. 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON CHRIST.”
(emphasis mine)
We are also to put on the new man.
Eph. 4:24 “And that ye PUT ON the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Col. 3:10 “And have PUT ON the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (emphasis mine)
The things that God's temple is to be clothed in today are things that proceed from the Spirit of God. They are birthed by the Spirit of God. They have nothing to do with precious stones, metal or fine wood.
Col. 3:12-14 “PUT ON therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels (...inward affection and tender mercy [Strong's]) of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing (...fig. to put up with ...[Strong's]) one another, and forgiving one another, ...
14 And above all these things PUT ON charity (... love [Strong's]), which is the bond of perfectness. (emphasis mine) (added notation)
The Lexicon gives this meaning for the word 'perfectness'; “moral and spiritual perfection.” Since it is God who is love, it makes sense then, to say that love is the bond of perfectness. Peter, in speaking to wives, says:
1Peter 3:3-4 “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of apparel (...clothes ...[Strong's]):
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet [by implication] – still (undisturbed ... peaceable ... [Strong's]) spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (parenthesis mine) (added notation)
Since the writer of these verses was surely not telling women not to wear clothes, then he is not likely telling them never to wear gold or a fancy hair do. The word 'ornament' has to do with decoration and ornament. So I believe he is telling women to let the things which really beautify them and sets them apart from others, be those things of the heart. DECORATE YOUR HEART.
It has been said that eyes are the windows of the soul. What is in the heart can very often be seen in the eyes and all the outward decorating in the world will not hide what shows through the eyes. A woman of great physical beauty can be very unattractive if she has a depressed, negative, bitter or hateful spirit. Likewise, an ordinary or plain woman can become very attractive when love and life shine in her eyes and smile. This principal holds true in referring to the temple of God, whether male or female. The beauty of the temple will be what issues forth from the Spirit of God in our lives.
Now let us look at one more set of scriptures that tell us what to PUT ON, found in chapter six of Ephesians.
11 “PUT ON the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (emphasis mine)
The verses following these tell what the pieces of armour consist of.
They are:
1.TRUTH
2.THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
3.THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
4.THE SHIELD OF FAITH
5.THE HELMET OF SALVATION
6.THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
As the priesthood of God, we have many things to PUT ON as we grow in Christ and walk in His Spirit. He will teach us how to put these things on as we practice yielding and listening to the Holy Spirit. He will teach us how to detect the wiles of the enemy and the things we must avoid, refuse and PUT OFF from God's temple. It is a ministry of love.
The putting off part of the ministry becomes easier as we walk more in God's ways and they become more a part of who we are. The more we are transformed by the renewing of our mind and are renewed in the inner man, the old man who we were before salvation becomes easier to refuse, along with the old man Satan. He may try to bring old ways back, but James 4:7 says -
7 “Submit yourselves therefore unto God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
WE HAVE THE POWER TO OBEY THIS DIRECTIVE
Col. 3:8-9 “But now ye also PUT OFF all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have PUT OFF the old man with his deeds;
(emphasis mine)
If you are a child of God, you can look into God's Word for yourself to learn and understand more of God's ways. Be assured, however, that the life in Christ is a life of beauty as well as service. The service by which we serve is inspired and empowered by the Spirit of God and brings much joy. It is not limited to buildings and the polishing of gold and silver, nor the washing of linen garments and sacrificing of animals, as men of old had to do.
Break out of the chains of bondage that would keep you from liberty in Christ and the joyous, selfless type of service God desires for his priesthood to do in his temple today. Sink into the garment of the Spirit and see how much better it feels than the burdens of the old Law! Live in, and stand strong in the liberty in which Christ has made you free!
Now take a look at the sacrifices that please God today, when done by his priesthood, and see if you do not smile with joy at the beauty and blessedness of it all!!
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