Shammah Temple Fellowship: Sermon of Sunday March 2, 2025
By Claver Nitonde
Theme: What does Jesus do in taking care of His Temples?
Reference scriptures: John 2:13-22 & Matthew 21:23-25
Talking of temples in this context, it’s important to point out that we are talking more of spiritual temples – our bodies, not the buildings. It is me and you, our bodies who house the Holy Spirit.
As we grow up, parents and those around us not only give us what we want or need, but also keep us away from what we don’t need, what can harm us.
What does Jesus do in taking care of [us] His Temples?
- Jesus purifies [us] His Temples
The whole Israel and people around that place had to come to Israel for worship. Some coming from far had to bring their own sacrifices and offerings. It was in that context that leaders decided to make things easier and allowed them to bring a market for sheep and other articles they used for offering outside the temple. Unfortunately, they went a bit farther and brought their articles inside the temple. It became so messed up.
Jesus decided to intervene and purify that place – what will He not do to purify us – His bride, whose bodies are at the same the temple of the Holy Spirit.
What bad things Jesus wants to remove from us?
- Sins from within us, “From within, out of the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, acts of greed and covetousness, wickedness, deceit, envy and jealousy, slander and profanity, arrogance and self-righteousness and foolishness…” (Mark 7:21-22).
- Things that distract us from seeing Jesus.
What Jesus took out of the temple were not unholy; money, cows, sheep, other commercial articles. These things – though not bad – were not meant to be the temple’s central attention. Jesus can come and remove things that would disturb us from making real impact in His ministry.
- Jesus wants to use us
Jesus cares about us so we can serve Him. Removing all the distractions was the best way to get the people ready to listen to Him – uninterrupted so He could tell them what He wanted them to do. That is exactly what Jesus does in our lives when He gets out all the distractions that keep us away from his presence. He doesn’t want to share us with other [bad] things.
Why does Jesus remove things from us first before He uses us?
- We are His own temple
We are Jesus’ creation, who were created to do the work that was prepared for us to do before we were even created.
- Those who are not in His hands are in danger
As Believers, we are only as secure as we are close to Jesus. Any chance we get to be closer to Jesus brings us in the natural safety we can ever get.
In short, Jesus is at work to make His Believers the best they can be. He takes care of us by purifying us removing sin and distractions from our lives and by using us in His ministry. What a privilege to serve our Lord! May we follow Jesus’ way to purify us so we can better serve Him the way He wants us to.
