House of God

 Matt 11:17
’‘My house shall be called for all nations the house of prayer’? But ye have made it a den of thieves.”

It was the practice and conviction of the church I was saved in to keep the house of God sacred. All exchange of money for whatever purpose was to be done outside the church walls. Food was not to be eaten inside the church sanctuary. This included the basement, and any edifice connected to it. The premise of these strict rules is based on this passage of scripture. I do appreciate the reverence and respect that was given to God’s house, even though I think they have taken this scripture beyond the purpose it was intended. We need to keep the place we gather together to meet God special. We have entered into the presence of God, we are on holy ground. The sanctuary is not a playground or the marketplace, it is a place to “take off our shoes”, lift our hearts, and hear the word of God. 
Like the fig tree that Jesus had cursed on its way to the temple, the Jews were not bearing fruit that was pleasing to God. Their hearts were full of greed and selfish living. They did not care about being true worshipers of God, they used their religion and the temple to pad their pockets. Jesus saw the hypocrisy and the fruitlessness of their lives and manifested His wrath against the way they were blaspheming the House of God. Like the fig tree He cursed and withered away, Jesus was demonstrating His displeasure and anger at the sin of His chosen people. They were all about appearing good on the outside, a tree with leaves, but hearts far from true followers of God. The Jews were not bearing the fruit that God intended them to bear. As believers, it is not enough to be called a Christian, but God desires that our lives bear fruit unto righteousness, living our lives to be like Christ.

The True Church

 Matt. 6:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; Eph. 2:20) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A Church is born. Not a building or edifice, but a body of believers that unite together in one spirit. Born of the Father, made through the death of Christ on the cross and the resurrection, that the gates of hell could not prevent. This Church is a spiritual structure bringing together all who put their trust in Jesus Christ. He is the foundation, the chief cornerstone that all who claim Him as Lord and Savior can stand firm. Regardless of our origins or birthplace we are fitly put together to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. We gather together on the Lord’s day, we come to church, a physical building, a place we have dedicated as the house of God. It is not the Church, but a church where a group of believers come together as part of the Church for the purpose to worship, grow in grace, fellowship, and share our burdens. Some have said that the church is a “hospital” for the sick, a place for sinners to find Christ, and for those who need spiritual and physical healing. Therefore, the doors of the church are open to all who desire to know or find God. The church is not exclusive, but inclusive to both sinners and saints. Membership into this physical church varies from church organizations. To guard against heresy, statements of faith are put in place to maintain the doctrine of Christ and moral values of the church that are taught in scripture.  Such statements should not preclude or restrict worship of God according to the dictates of one’s heart. All are welcome, especially the child of God who is part of the Church that is built on the chief cornerstone. In the house of God, the wall of division are broken down and all come together as one in Christ to honor and glorify Him. He is the Rock, His church will prevail.

Worship Him

 John 4:23-24
The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 
The place of worship is a special place. I often feel that God dwells nearer in these places. The reality is that God is not confined to a location or building. I still feel that the house of God holds special meaning, and that He is pleased that we have dedicated a place to gather together as believers to praise and worship Him as a collective body of worshipers. But as true worshipers of the Father, we worship Him everywhere we go. We worship Him in the way we live. Christ is the center of our lives, and in everything we give thanks. He is the air we breath, we find solace in knowing that He walks with us, talks with us, and abides in us. I love to worship Him in His house, but God is not seen in the material things of this world, He is seen in the hearts of believers, and we worship Him in spirit and in truth. 

Your Whole Heart

Psalm 111:1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

With my whole heart, and everything within me I give myself to God in praise. The whole heart does not hold back, does not share its affections. The whole heart is committed 100% to the things of God. In time of worship, the whole heart puts away the things in life that weigh heavy on our mind. The heart is focus on Jesus, His love and grace. His mercy that endures forever. With our whole heart, we give thanks to God for all that He has done and will do. We enter into His house with thanksgiving and praise because He is worthy and holy. There is no other God like our God. Praise Him not only in the place of worship, but praise Him at home, work, school, and wherever you go. Let others know that you have given your whole heart to God and He alone is worthy of our praise.

Dwelling in the House of God

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

Dwelling in the house of God is more than going to a building were we gather together to sing and hear the word of God preached. To dwell in God’s house is to live in His presence, to behold the glory of God in the world around us. I don’t always feel like going to church. There are days, I would rather be alone with my thoughts, contemplating the things of God. We call it the house of God because it is a place we come to worship, but the true temple of God resided in our hearts. It is from this temple that we seek and desire to behold His beauty. To worship Him in the beauty of His holiness. The thing I desire and enquire most in life is to know that my life is pleasing to God and that my priorities in life are inline with His perfect will. It is important to seek God in the place we gather together and asked that He come and meet with us, and we should not forsake the assemble of God’s people, but make no mistake, going to church will not grant you eternal life. We our the temple of God, He must dwell in us. 

Behave Thyself

1 Tim 3:15 “ but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou ought to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”-

A person who is part of the household of God has a responsibility to behave themselves in a way that will reflect well on the family name. The name of this family is the name “Christian” God is the Father, and Christ the the elder brother, and we are join heirs, adopted into this family through the blood of Christ. In Him is truth and His church is the pillar of truth. We are to behave in all manners of truth. Being part of the family of God or being part of the house of God is to love the Father with all our hearts and to love those who are part of this household. We may have different opinions and ideas, but our love for Christ binds us together, and His blood that was shed for us unites us as one. May we be conscious how we behave and always leave an example to others that we bare the name of Christ as a Christian.

Working Third Shift

Psalm 134:1 “Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord.”- 

Doing third shift is tough if you are not a night owl. The third shift can get lonely and can sometime be difficult to stay alert and watchful. Third shifters are gap fillers, they carry on the duties, reaching out in places where it seem insignificant. There are many who are working in isolated places doing the work of the Kingdom. At times it may seem that they are all alone. They labor at “night” where no one is watching. They continue to do what is right in spite of the circumstances. They keep the worship doors open in case someone is wandering in the darkness of sin needs a place to find help.  Standing in the house of the Lord at night may mean carrying most of the financial load and being faithful to the house of God even when there may be only two or three. God has promised that He will bless those who are working the third shift. He has promise that He will be with them, even in the night.