A Love For the House of God
Offering Thought:
(1) The Lord is our stability.
Isaiah 33:5-6 (ESV) 5 The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, 6 and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.
(1)(1) The stability of our times.
- Stability of every generation comes from our reliance on the Lord.
- Stability equals abundance.
- Abundance of salvation, wisdom and knowledge.
- Salvation: Saved to the fullest. Not just saved…. but SAVED.
- Abundance of wisdom and knowledge.
James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
(2) Ela…(Stay with me on this thought) It could be said that God does not physically fill our bank account with abundance (though all things come from Him) but fills our life with wisdom and knowledge and favor and strength and then blesses and multiplies all the work of our hands, all His tithes returned, and all our seeds sown.
(3) Placing our treasures in the Lord’s hands.
(3)(1)We often times hesitate from placing treasures in the Lord’s hand concerned for their safety or even our safety if we sow them – will there still be enough.
(3)(2)Each of us could only try to out give God and see how that goes for each of us.
(3)(3)Everything is safe that is committed to Him. (3)(4)And nothing is really safe until it is placed in his hand.
Introduction:
- Fill The House
- Be in the House.
1. Meeting together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
1.1. Let us consider, as Hebrews says, “how to Stir up one another in not neglecting to meet together”
1.2. The importance of meeting together: 1.2.1. This is who we are.
1.2.2. People planted in the house
1.2.2.1. are stronger.
1.2.2.2. Put on Humility
1.2.2.3. Connected in community.
1.2.2.4. Making the Lord’s House a house of prayer”
1.3. Gathering at the Altar of Prayer:
1.3.1. This is holy business.
1.3.2. “No casual dealings will suffice”
1.4. Some things just cannot be replaced
1.4.1. like a sharpener to a knife.
1.4.2. Like miles to a marathoner.
1.4.3. like reps to the body builder.
1.4.4. Like the Whitehouse to the US President.
1.5. Meeting together every day and every week.
Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the Temple together and breaking bread in the homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
2. The Lord’s day belongs to the Lord.
Revelation 1:10 (NKJV) I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
Mark 16:2 early on the first day of the week.
Luke 24:1 the first day of the week very early in the morning
Acts 20:7 (NKJV) Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
1 Cor. 16:2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
2.1. The first day of the week is the Lord’s day.
2.2. The Lord’s day is not our day.
2.3. Giving back to the Lord the Lord’s day.
2.4. “The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all theday, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.”(Westminster Larger Catechism)
2.5. Goal for this year is to be in the House especially on the Lord’s Day.
2.6. Being freed from the works that otherwise hold us bound the other 6 days a week.
2.7. The Lord’s Day is all about a pattern.
2.7.1. It is to be the one day in seven which is distinct from the others.
2.7.2. The Lord’s day is set apart.
2.7.3. “There is a distinction between those who serve the Lord” Sumrall
2.7.4. There is a distinction among the days of the week, mainly the one we consecrate unto the Lord.
3. Having a love for the House of God.
Psalms 84:10 (ESV) For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
3.1. Having a love for what happens in the House of the Lord.
3.1.1. Hearts that are converted.
3.1.2. Lives that are changed.
3.2. Our love meter is so often at capacity with so many other loves filling our heart.
3.3. I read it written about Abraham’s obedience in his willingness to offer Isaac
3.3.1. “I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there.” (Tozer)
3.4. Making space for love for Jesus and Love for His House to reign in our hearts.
3.5. “The tough old miser within us will not lie down and die obedient to our command. He must be expelled from our soul as Christ expelled the money changers from the temple.” Tozer…
3.6. I have always had a desire to build a dedicated sanctuary of worship.