Module 3: The Spirit Within
10 min read
There is a difference between the Spirit being with you and the Spirit being in you. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon people for specific tasks. In the New Testament, the Spirit takes up permanent residence within every believer. Your body becomes a temple.
Under the old covenant, God's presence dwelt in the tabernacle and later the temple. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. A thick curtain separated the people from the immediate presence of God.
At Jesus' death, that curtain was torn from top to bottom Matthew 27:51Mark 15:38. The barrier was removed. And at Pentecost, the Spirit moved out of a building and into people. Peter declares that believers are "being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood" 1 Peter 2:5. The temple is now a people.
Paul asks the Corinthians, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" 1 Corinthians 6:19. Notice the pronouns: your bodies, who is in you. The Spirit is not in the church building. He is in you.
This is true of every believer, regardless of how mature or gifted you feel. The moment you put your faith in Jesus, the Spirit moved in. He will never leave.
If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it has dignity. Your body is not merely a machine for pleasure or productivity. It is the dwelling place of God. This has implications for how you treat your body, your sexuality, your sleep, your food, your work, and your rest.
Paul's point in 1 Corinthians 6 is specifically about sexual purity. He says, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" 1 Corinthians 6:20. The Spirit does not live in a body meant for selfish indulgence. He lives in a body meant for worship.
The indwelling Spirit means you are never alone. You cannot travel beyond His presence. You cannot fall beneath His gaze. In your best moments and your worst, He is there. Jesus' promise is fulfilled: "Surely I am with you always" Matthew 28:20.
This week, practice the awareness of His presence. When you wake, when you eat, when you work, when you rest, remember: the Spirit of God is in this body, in this moment, in this ordinary life.