First, it was fragrance, then it turned to fire! Imagine the enticing aroma of ripe plantain sizzling in hot oil—failure or hesitation in taking it off the heat, the snack is sure to burn. Likewise, sin often begins first with an alluring fragrance, but unchecked, it turns to fire! It was recorded of Moses, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” – Heb. 11:25.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” – 1 Cor. 6:19-20. If we must honour God with our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable, then we must repair/renew our altars (1 Kgs. 18:30-46). “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” – 1 Cor. 3:16.

I believe the residence (temple) of the spirit of God is not directly in the body but in the soul. To illustrate this practically, consider an egg: the same way the yoke is not found directly in the eggshell but encased in albumen (egg white). Man is essentially a living soul; the soul serves as the inner dwelling place for the Spirit. Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart (renewed soul) and put a new spirit (the Holy Spirit) in you”. The body is simply a reflection of what’s happening on the inside.

“If the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you” – Rom. 8:11. There must be a thirst, whenever there’s a renewed heart, God perceives an acceptable sacrifice and where there’s an acceptable sacrifice, there’s ignition. “For our God is a consuming fire” – Heb. 12:29 First, it was fragrance, then it turned to fire!