God's Holy Fire: 'God's New Temple'

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

[In his revelation to John, Jesus said,] "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
— Revelation 3:13 NIV

Key Thought

Jesus urges us to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. In this context, the focus is on his promise to make those who are battling strong opposition to their faith into a permanent and heavenly temple for God. While earthly buildings will crumble and fall, the disciples are promised a permanent place in a permanent dwelling in which God lives. Throughout the New Testament, the Spirit repeatedly tells us that
  1. we are being built into a temple where the Holy Spirit lives (Ephesians 2:19-21),
  2. we are living stones being built into God's temple (1 Peter 2:4-5),
  3. we are individually the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and
  4. we are collectively, as a church, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).
The ultimate, the final, and the grandest promise of all is this one: Those who are faithful even unto death and overcome the world (Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 5:5) are built into God's eternal temple.

Today's Prayer

Dear God, my Father in heaven, everything around me is subject to aging, decay, and destruction. So I thank you for promising me something eternal and giving me the gift of your Holy Spirit to guarantee this promise and to work in me to make me wholly yours. In Jesus' name, I thank you. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

1 Related Resource by Heartlight

To Philadelphia: 'I Possess the Key'
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Faithful One, My letter to My followers in the ancient city of "brotherly love" — the meaning of the word Philadelphia — is for you...."

Illustration

Illustration of Revelation 3:13 NIV — [In his revelation to John, Jesus said,] "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Daniel 3:16, 18
"The narrative of the manly courage and marvellous deliverance of the three holy children, or rather champions, is well calculated to excite in the..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
"The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'He Did Not Ignore My Prayer' (Ps. 66:20)
"Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Spirit Fell on Them!' (Acts 11:15-16)
""As I began to speak [to Cornelius, along with his family and friends]," Peter continued, "the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations