Have We Neglected the House of God?

Nehemiah 10:39 says:

"For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God."

As I read this passage in Nehemiah, one statement struck me deeply: "We will not neglect the house of our God."

I began to ponder what it truly means to neglect the house of God. Is there a posture I can take that signals to heaven that I do not regard God? Could there be attitudes, actions, or patterns of speech that reveal a lack of honor for His dwelling place?

As I reflected further, I realized that we are no longer in the days when God primarily dwelt in physical temples made by human hands. Through Christ Jesus, God now resides in us.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:16:

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

If we are now God's temple, then the question becomes: How do we honor this temple He has given us?

Honoring God's Temple

Honoring the temple begins with caring for it both physically and spiritually.

When we study the book of Exodus, we see the detailed instructions God gave Moses concerning how Aaron and the priests were to approach His presence. There were protocols regarding cleanliness, preparation, clothing, and reverence. These instructions reveal a principle: God desires that His people approach Him with honor and respect.

This means that our bodies matter to God. It is not only our spirits that we present before Him; we also present our bodies. We should therefore care for ourselves, maintain cleanliness, rest adequately, eat properly, and steward our health wisely.

The Danger of Defiling the Temple

Scripture warns us against joining what belongs to God with what is contrary to His will. Sexual intimacy was designed by God to be expressed within the covenant of marriage. Outside of God's design, it often leaves emotional, spiritual, and even psychological wounds.

Many people have experienced significant changes in their lives following ungodly relationships or sexual encounters. Brokenness, confusion, and spiritual oppression can often be traced back to violations of God's divine order.

God's instructions are never meant to restrict us but to protect the precious treasure He has placed within us.

Protecting the Good God Placed Within You

When God created man and woman, He declared His creation "good." Yet He did not stop there. He blessed them and commanded them:

"Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth."

This reveals God's intention for humanity—to multiply His goodness throughout the earth.

The enemy understands this, which is why he constantly seeks to attack the good that God has deposited within every believer. His objective is to corrupt, weaken, or destroy the potential God has placed inside us.

Neglecting the temple of God is therefore more than simply failing to attend a church building. It can be any posture of disobedience, ignorance, or carelessness that damages the work of God within us and hinders the expression of His goodness through our lives.

Living as Carriers of God's Presence

Everything God created has protocols that govern how it relates to Him. Scripture tells us that God feeds the birds of the air. If God makes provision for the birds, how much more does He care for those He has chosen to dwell within?

We are not merely people trying to survive after the fall of man. We are living temples of the Holy Spirit.

Because of this, we should carry ourselves in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself through us. We must steward our lives well physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Take care of yourself. Bathe regularly. Eat well. Rest adequately. Stay healthy. Grow spiritually. Spend time in prayer and in God's Word. Follow God's protocols and depend on His grace to help you walk in obedience.

When we do this, we demonstrate that we have not neglected the house of God, for we recognize that we ourselves are His dwelling place.

Stay Revived!

Scriptures for Meditation

1 Corinthians 3:16

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?"

The Enemy Wants Your Mind

Recently, I began a study that started with a simple thought about Judas Iscariot—the most renowned betrayer of all time. As I read more about him, I found myself wondering: Did Judas ever truly accept the message of redemption, despite being so close to the Master?

Why did he choose his own way despite his proximity to the Truth? He constantly heard and received the words that flowed from the heart of the Messiah, yet he still turned away.

This led me to a sobering realization: we can submit our bodies, our actions, and even our service to God, yet never fully surrender our minds. That is why Scripture calls us to the renewing of our minds. Without a surrendered mind, transformation cannot take place.

The mind is exactly what Satan is after. He seeks to flood our thoughts with his ideas, planting seeds that he carefully cultivates until they produce fruit contrary to the will of God.

This is the same strategy the enemy used with Ananias and Sapphira. Peter's question to Ananias reveals the true battleground:

"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" (Acts 5:3)

Satan wants to fill our hearts and minds with ideas of deception, compromise, and double standards. He whispers, "You can have it both ways." He seeks to lure us into complacency and make our hearts fertile ground for his agenda.

Acts 5:3 (God's Word Translation):

"Peter asked, 'Ananias, why did you let Satan fill you with the idea that you could deceive the Holy Spirit? You've held back some of the money you received for the land.'"

God does not merely want us to recognize Satan's tactics; He wants us to develop a counter-strategy. We must combat the enemy through a continual posture of surrender and declarations rooted in God's truth.

Declare:

- Satan, you will not fill my mind with your ideas.

- You will not fill my heart with your desires.

- You will not fill my heart with your thoughts.

- My heart is submitted to the will of Christ.

- I will do the will of Christ.

- Righteousness is the path I have chosen.

- I refuse you.

- I rebuke you.

- I silence your voice.

Do not hide Satan's deception behind your weaknesses. Expose it, confront it, and choose God's reality over the enemy's lies.

Stay Revived!

A moment in time

The disciples were called Christians because they lived and looked like Christ. Oftentimes, we hold on to the notion that we are Jesus' baby,  both male and female, but we fail to realize that the disciples were followers of Christ not only in name but also in speech and lifestyle.

Therefore, the message, "Be imitators of Christ," is not written or preached simply because it sounds good or pleasant to hear. It is a daily call to be conscious of our speech, actions, and lifestyle so that whatever we do on earth points people back to Christ.

Scripture says:

Luke 4:5 – "Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time."

In this passage, we see the vision encounter Jesus had with Satan, where he was shown all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. In other words, Satan presented before Him everything the world had to offer and attempted to entice Him with authority over it all.

This was a temptation with the capacity to alter the entire narrative of the Gospel if Jesus had fallen.I can almost imagine Jesus thinking, "My Father is the Creator of all these kingdoms, I am the word, I govern the affairs of men. Who are you to offer Me what already belongs to Me? I created it all." It's tricky how Satan still uses this foxish character today, what we think is just one off, changes the trangentry of a person's life.

A moment in time

A moment in time can be that opportunity that looks attractive because you think no one will ever know if you steal the money. It can be the temptation to commit adultery or engage in sexual immorality. A moment in time can be that decision you know God is not in, yet you expect Him to overlook it and put his blessing in it.

It can be the hardness of heart that blinds you to the efforts of a spouse who is genuinely trying to make the marriage work. A moment in time has the power either to align us with God's will or to derail us from it.

The reality is that in such moments, we are always presented with choices—the way of life or the way of destruction.

A moment in time can also be reflected in how you manage the resources God has placed in your hands. Can God trust you with greater financial resources, or would the riches of this world pull your heart away from Him?

It takes nothing for God to change the story of a person's life in a moment. However, when you are brought to the table of decision in that moment, make sure you choose life.

The moments that define destiny are often brief, but their consequences can last a lifetime. Therefore, remain conscious, remain watchful, and remain committed to living a life that reflects Christ in every decision you make.

Stay Revived!

Have You Lost the Consciousness of What You Have?

What do you have?

What was it that redemption offered you when you said "yes" to Jesus?

Do you believe that Jesus gave you so much on the day you accepted Him, or has the reality of what He gave you been gradually stolen by hell's strategic agenda?

It is very easy to become conscious of our physical privileges, relationships, and opportunities that come through our association with certain people. However, it takes intentional training and spiritual growth to walk out of the limitations of the flesh and come to a place where we are conscious of heaven's plans, agenda, and resources—so much so that every aspect of our lives reflects them.

Last week, I walked out of what seemed like another failed interview—not because I failed, but because it appeared to offer no tangible benefit. Yet, I knew the Lord had spoken a word concerning His blessings over my life this year. However, my reality seemed to be projecting the opposite of what God had said.

It is often easier to focus on our pain than on God's promise of healing.

It is easier to declare our weaknesses than to affirm God's strength at work within us.

It is easier to seek help from man than to wait on God's plan and divine agenda.

But God is reminding us today that the very day we said "yes" to Him, we became His responsibility.

Acts 3:6 (God's Word Translation)

"However, Peter said to him, 'I don't have any money, but I'll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!'"

The apostles could only give out Jesus because they did not treat Him as a religious experience locked away in the Upper Room. He had become an inseparable part of their daily journey and reality.

So today, instead of counting the things we do not have, let us choose to focus on what redemption has already paid for. Redemption paid for everything we need for life and godliness.

Walk in the consciousness of what Christ has made available to you.

Stay revived in this truth!