FASTING REASONS FOR FASTING (2019) DAY TWELVE

A TORN VEIL

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks split.” Matthew 27:51

Before the second temple was destroyed, a new temple was established. When Jesus died on Calvary, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. God the Father personally ripped the veil from heaven to earth. The torn veil, that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, the various courts, and Solomon’s Porch, changed the perspective of the temple in several ways. In the next three devotions, we will examine the changes.

1. The first change was the temple was no longer a place, it was now a person.
2. The temple was no longer a building but a believer.
3. It was no longer necessary to go to the temple because the believer was the temple.

The apostle Paul said, “Or do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) God’s two greatest creations, the temple and humanity, were created to become the dwelling places of God. God took up residence in the temple building once it was dedicated and moved His residence into the believer once salvation’s plan was completed. The believer became the permanent dwelling place of God.

The purpose of both, the building and believer, was and is to be a reflection of God’s glory. The goal was and is not for people to be enamoured with the creation but the Creator. Everyone in Jerusalem and Judea, Jew and Gentile, knew the temple was the dwelling place of God. Its unique look set it apart from all other structures. The actions manifested in the temple were not duplicated in any other place. Likewise, as believers, in whom God dwells, we should live in such a manner that it is obvious to everyone that we belong to God. The way we act sets us apart from the world. Our actions in the spirit cannot be duplicated by the world’s works in the flesh. Just as God dictated what would and would not happen in the temple building, God dictates what should and should not happen in the life of His child because we are no longer our own. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. The apostle Paul made this perfectly clear when he said, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Just as the priests were charged with the upkeep of the temple building, we are charged to take care of our bodies. The priests removed anything or anyone who would defile the house of God. God has charged us to keep our bodies free from corruptible things. How you take care of your temple reflects not only what you think of yourself but how much you value God. To abuse, your body, as a believer, is to mock the One who created and redeemed you. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Are you doing anything with your body that would impede your ability to serve and reflect God’s glory? During your time of fasting, has the Lord revealed anything that must be removed from your life? Is there anything that keeps you from being the very best servant for God? Would you let go of it and let God remove it? I promise you will not miss it!