08/01/2026 – “The Temples of Desecration” – Day 167 / “Don’t you know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
“It was evening. I and several others of the students were sitting around the campfire listening to the teacher.
“Who was the most famous person,” asked the teacher, “ever to celebrate The Festival of Chanukah?”
He wanted for a response, but no one said anything.
“Jesus,” he said, “Yeshua. Most people have no idea that He did or that Chanukah is found in the New Testament. But it is written: ‘It was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was wintertime, and Yeshua was walking in the temple …’ Do you know what the word for dedication is in Hebrew?”
Again there was no response.
“It’s Chanukah. The Feast of Dedication is Chanukah. Do you know why it’s called that? There was no response. The teacher continued. “In ancient times the Temple of Jerusalem was desecrated by pagan invaders. They found their Temple defiled and desolate. They removed the idols, cleansed its courts, repaired its chambers, restored its vessels, rekindled its holy lamp stand, and rededicated it to God. The temple’ rededication was called ‘Chanukah.'”
“But God has another temple,” he said, “another holy dwelling place created by His presence.”
“But God’s Temple could only be built in Jerusalem,” said one of the students.
“There is another,” said the teacher, “many others. The temple is you. Each of you were created to be the dwelling place of God’s presence, the holy temple of His glory. It’s man. Man was created to be God’s temple. But now the world is filled with the temples of desecration.”
“What does that mean?” asked another of the students. “Every life is made to be a temple filled with God’s presence. But without God’s presence we become a temple desecrated, defined, darkened, filled with idols … a temple created to be holy but fallen from its purpose.”
“So, what do you do, ” I asked, “if that’s you?”
“You open the doors of your life and you let God come in. You let Him take out your idols, cleanse your impurities, restore your purpose, light up your heart, and fill your life with His presence. For when you rededicate the temple to God, God will fill it with His glory… IN others words, you become the temple of God and your life becomes … Chanukah.”
The Mission: Today, celebrate your own Chanukah. Remove the idols. Cleanse your chambers. Rededicate and reconsecrate your temple to God.
Ezekiel 36: 25-27; John 10: 22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6: 16-7:1
Rededicating the Temple
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I encourage y’all to read all four bible verses. The third bible verse is in the title of this post.
With Regard to the first bible verses in the Book of Ezekiel, check out this commentary for Ezekiel: 36: 24-32:
“36: 24-32 This passage expands on 11; 14-21, the Lord’s promise to the returning exiles, in a series of affirmations. (1) The Lord will honor His promises of restoration (v. 24). (2). He will cleanse the people from their idolatry (v. 25). (3). He will give them a “new heart” and “new spirit” (v. 26)). (4) His Spirit will enable them to walk in His laws (v. 27). (5). They will live permanently in the land (v. 28). (6). The Lord will renew His covenant affirmation to have them as His people and be their God (v. 28; cp. Jeremiah 31:32-33). (7) The land will again be productive (vv. 29-30; cp. Amos 9: 13-15). (8). The Judea’s will remember their idolatry and “loathe” themselves (v. 31). (9) Their cities will be resettled (v.33). (10) Desolate land will again be cultivated (v. 34). (11) The land will be as productive as the garden of Eden (v.35). (12). All surrounding nations will acknowledge what Yahweh has done (v. 36). (13) He will bless and increase His people like a flock (v. 37).”