The House Of God
Gtcotr/ss012305
Where a person goes to church often reveals why they go to church.
Why a person goes to church often determines where they go to church.
Where do you go to church?
Why?
The bible says:
God sets the solitary in families. Psalms 68:6
God sets us in the body as it pleases Him. 1 Corinthians 12:18
Have you allowed God to set you in a church family as it pleases Him?
This morning as you turn to The Book of Mark, I have two questions about The House Of God. While you find Mark, let me read our:
Key Scriptures: 1 Timothy 3
14 ¶ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Paul talked about The House of God, as being the church of the living God.
This morning I will be referring to not just any church, but a particular church. The church you are a part of.
Whether you are a member here or somewhere else, a pastor, deacon, lay minister or church member viewing this live or archived via the internet, let me talk to you for a moment about the church you belong to, the House of God, --- Your Father’s House.
The two questions I have today are simple questions which I hope to answer from the scriptures.
The first question we will not spend much time on. The answer is evident. However, the point it makes is a very important one. The first question is:
Whose Is The House?
The second question which we will look in greater detail is this:
Who’s In The House?
I. Whose Is The House
To answer this question I am going to ask for your help. May I ask you to do some reading this week.
I’m asking you to take some personal time and read the story of the Prodigal Son as found in the book of Luke. Specifically Luke 15:11-32
Reading Assignment: Luke 15:11-32
1. Compare the older brother’s feelings to those of the father.
2. Who do these characters represent in our lives today?
Of course the answer to the question: Whose Is The House is simple: The Church Is ‘The Father’s House’ - Not The Brother’s House
Because it is the Father’s house, all of His children are welcome and He is glad when any child comes home, especially the wayward ones.
Luke 15:7 "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
By far the largest part of the family of God in America cannot be found in the House of God, worshipping with the family on Sundays.
God forbid that we turn one away or make one feel unwelcome, unwanted or unloved.
Now for the second question:
II. Who’s In The House
The story of the prodigal son gives us such enlightenment as to how God feels about His children.
However, it’s not only a question of Whose Is The House, but also a question of Who’s In The House.
Have you found:
Mark 2 KJV
1 ¶ And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
From this passage we can clearly see that things changed when Jesus came into the house.
In fact, there are 12 specific things we see happening as a direct result of Him being in the house.
Lets look at them for a moment:
III. 12 Indications That Jesus Is In The House
A. When Jesus Is In The House
1. The House Gets Full
2. The Word Is Being Proclaimed
3. Believers Are Bringing Friends Who Have Needs
4. People Are Doing Whatever It Takes To Get Close To Jesus
5. There’s Faith In Action
* Faith For Yourself
* Faith For Others
6. Sins Are Forgiven (People Are Getting Right With God)
7. Religious Spirits Get Stirred Up
8. The Prophetic Is In Operation
* Acts 5 Peter with Ananias and Sapphira
9. There’s Healing In The House
10. Believers Are Continually Amazed
11. God Gets All The Credit - Glory & Praise
12. Minds And Lives Are Changed
B. In Other Words
1. There’s people in the house
2. There’s preaching in the house
3. There’s hope in the house
4. There’s help in the house
5. There’s faith in the house
6. There’s forgiveness in the house
7. There’s contention in the house
8. There’s prophecy in the house
9. There’s healing in the house
10. There’s awe in the house
11. There’s praise in the house
12. There’s revelation in the house
IV. Conclusion
A. We must insure that we never allow the church God places us in to be anything less than Our Father’s House
B. We must do whatever it takes to make sure that “Jesus is in the House”
C. How can we do this?
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
D. Lets make church all about Jesus
