LOB Team I http://www.livingourbible.com I Monday 9th February 2026
Introduction
In the fifth installment of his Kingdom teaching series, Pastor Mensa Otabil delivers a profound and clarifying message titled “Jesus the Temple.” In this sermon, he reframes how believers should understand the kingdom of God—not as a physical space or religious structure, but as the active rule of God expressed through His will, Word, ways, and works.
By tracing Scripture from Eden to Christ, the message unveils a clear progression of truth: God has always desired to dwell with humanity, and that desire finds its ultimate fulfillment not in a building, but in a Person—Jesus Christ—and, through Him, in believers.
The Kingdom of God and the Question of God’s Dwelling
At the heart of the sermon is a simple but powerful definition: the kingdom of God is where God’s will is done, His Word is honored, His ways are followed, and His works are manifested. Wherever these are present, God’s kingdom is active.
Flowing from this definition is a central question that runs through Scripture: Where does God dwell? Pastor Otabil explains that understanding the kingdom requires understanding God’s dwelling place across biblical history.
From Eden to the Temple: A Progression of Truth
The sermon walks listeners through the Bible’s unfolding story of God’s dwelling with humanity. It begins in Eden, where God walked freely with man—heaven and earth in perfect harmony. After the fall, this direct fellowship was disrupted, but God continued to reveal Himself through altars and mountains, places where humans encountered His presence.
This progression continued with the tabernacle, a movable dwelling that symbolized God’s presence among Israel, and later the temple in Jerusalem, a fixed and glorious structure that represented God’s habitation among His people. Yet, as Pastor Otabil emphasizes, each stage pointed forward to something greater. These were not the final destination, but signposts leading to Christ.
Jesus: Eden Restored and God With Us
At the center of the message is the revelation that Jesus is the true dwelling place of God. He is “Eden restored”—the meeting point of heaven and earth. In Christ, God no longer dwells symbolically behind veils or within walls, but personally and fully in human form.
Jesus does not merely visit the temple; He is the Temple. He embodies God’s presence, authority, and life. To encounter Jesus is to encounter God Himself.
The Temple Cleansed and Redefined
Pastor Otabil highlights Jesus’ cleansing of Herod’s temple as a turning point. By driving out corruption from the temple courts, Jesus was not just reforming religious practice; He was signaling a transition.
This transition becomes unmistakable when Jesus declares, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” While His hearers assumed He referred to the physical structure in Jerusalem, Jesus was speaking about His own body. The true temple was standing before them, though they did not recognize it.
Brokenness That Multiplies God’s Presence
One of the most striking insights in the sermon is the necessity of Jesus’ death. Drawing from Jesus’ own words about the grain of wheat, Pastor Otabil explains that Christ’s brokenness was essential for multiplication.
If Jesus had remained physically present as the sole dwelling place of God, God’s presence would have been limited to one location and one body. Through His death and resurrection, however, Christ made it possible for God’s presence to be multiplied—no longer confined to a single temple, but reproduced in many lives.
Believers as the Living Temples of God
The sermon reaches its climax with a powerful conclusion: the temple is no longer in Jerusalem—it is Christ in you. God now dwells in believers by His Spirit. Using Paul’s words from Colossians 2:8–10, Pastor Otabil reminds listeners that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ, and believers are complete in Him.
This truth reshapes identity and authority. If Christ lives in believers, then they are not spiritually deficient or powerless. They carry God’s presence and rule, standing complete in Christ who reigns over all principalities and powers.
Conclusion
“Jesus the Temple” is more than a theological lesson; it is a transformational revelation. It calls believers to move beyond building-centered faith into Christ-centered living. God’s dwelling has progressed from Eden, to altars, to tents, to temples—and finally to Christ, and through Christ, to His people.
Understanding this truth empowers believers to live boldly, confidently, and purposefully, knowing that the God who once dwelt behind veils now lives within them.
About Living Our Bible (LOB)
Living Our Bible is a Christian digital platform committed to making Scripture practical, relevant, and impactful for everyday life. Through articles, devotionals, sermon insights, and faith-based reflections, LOB helps believers move from simply reading the Bible to truly living it.
Follow Living Our Bible on social media:
- 🌐 Website: www.livingourbible.com
Living God’s Word. Walking in His Kingdom.
Discover more from Living Our Bible
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Leave a comment