In past, we saw what the scriptures tells us about God the Father and
His family, that is, believers. What a wonderful privilege it is to
receive new birth and immediately become a child of God. Now every
believer is a legal partaker of all the promises of God and are now
members of the house or household of God. The house of God is often
referred to in the Old Testament as a physical Tabernacle or Temple.
Many in the church today still hold on to that concept that the House of
God is a material building or structure where believers gather together
for church functions. However, the Bible paints an entirely different
picture. The Apostle Paul tells us, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) The apostle Peter tells us, "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house..."
(1 Peter 2:5) Both Peter and Paul are not talking about an edifice, but
believers themselves are the temple, the spiritual house of God, His
dwelling place. Paul also tell us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)
Here
God's Family is given a very choice name, "the Household of Faith."
This reveals another wonderful truth. All believers are blood-brothers (and
sisters). We have partaken of the same nature, as well as being heirs
and joint heirs of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:17) We are not Methodists,
Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals,
Charismatics or even non-denominational. To those who have come into new
birth through faith in Jesus Christ, we are God's sons and daughters,
God's Family, His house on earth. As members of the Family, we are to minister to each other and watch over each other in love. Paul tells us, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers
and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God." (Ephesians 2:19) All believers everywhere
need to drop everything that we use which separates us from one another
and realize this very important fact, God desires to live with His
children. He does not want to be simply a guest in our individual lives,
no, He wants to have a Father's place in our lives and hearts (John
14:23) and as children of God, we are to be one. (John 17:22)
Think about this. Perhaps the most wonderful fact is, God did not create the whole
human race at the same time, but He created one man and one woman and
permitted them to be the father and mother of His house to produce for
Him more children. This shows the eternal responsibility of fatherhood
and motherhood not only in the natural sense, but moreover, in the
spiritual sense. The Apostle Paul says it this way, "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) But how can Christ be formed in believers, (His house,
the church), if we do not want Him. What do I mean by this? No matter
what denomination, group of churches or whether an independent
congregation, according to statistics, the average church service lasts
approximately one hour.
We
may say things like, "we come together to meet with God", "we come
together to worship God", but the reality is, for most, we come together
to practice our religion in the name of being "sensitive to each others
time or to those we are trying to reach." We sing songs instead of truly
worshiping in spirit and truth. We hear so called relevant sermons that
makes us feel good about ourselves, but rarely have any spiritual
affect upon those who hear, because they are meant to play upon the
emotions and not spiritual transformation. In stead of making
disciplines, we fill the church with numerous programs that are simply
therapeutic and not spiritually life changing. The sad thing is, we
twist the meaning of scripture, to appease our conscience and fit our
religious experience and life styles so we can justify what we do or not do. Think about
it. How many marriages would survive if a husband and wife squeezed
each other into a one hour a week meeting? This is why most
congregations never experience a true encounter with God in their church
services or programs, but equate an emotional response as an encounter
with God. This is not to say that we cannot be emotional, but that
emotions cannot dictate a true encounter with the Living God.
Transformation is the results of encountering God. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Jesus said, "..."If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."
(John 14:23) This is not referring to the new birth experience, but the
continuous presence of God in the church. In Jesus' final instructions
to the disciples, He also prays for those who will believe in Him through the preaching of the gospel by the disciples. He says, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one." (John 17:22) He also says, "Father,
I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am,
that they may behold (to look at; to view attentively; to see; to perceive with the eyes; to enjoy the presence of) My glory which You have given Me." (John 17:24)
The Apostle Paul tells us, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) This is not about an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, per se, it is about the continuous manifestation of God in His house, the church. Honestly, where is the manifestation of the Lord in His house? Where is the manifestation of oneness in His house?
Where is the manifestation of His power in His house? Where is the
manifestation of His glory in His house? Why has the majority of the
church become an institution working at pleasing man rather than a
living Body seeking to please God? Look at the words of the Apostles
Peter and John, "But Peter and John replied to them,
"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you (man) and obey
you (man) rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]." (Acts
4:19 AMP) They said this under persecution. They wanted to please God,
not man and were willing to face the consequences, be what they may. Look at the words of the Apostle Paul, "For
do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I
still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) I guess we can say, if Paul were to please man, he would not be pleasing to Christ.
Jesus finish up what we term "The Lord's Prayer" with these words, "For Yours is the Kingdom, Power and Glory forever, Amen."
(Matthew 6:13) I certainly cannot speak for all who read this, but I
desire the manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory wherever I
am, especially in a church service, than trying to get through religious
acts and programs of man that do not transform lives. A congregation
that is more concerned about peoples scheduling than desiring the
manifestation of God's Kingdom, Power and Glory, should never expect to
experience the manifestation of such in their meetings. Jesus tells us, "Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and
continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will
come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)
I am certainly not trying to be critical toward any congregation, but Jesus did say, "I will build my church." (Matthew 16:18) So, let's open the door of our heart. Let's open the door of His house
and stop trying to fit God into our schedules, but let Him takes us
into eternity by permitting Him full access to His house on His terms
and on His schedule. Let's throw religion out of the church and let the
King of Glory in. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Monday, June 19, 2023
Our Father's House
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