We “are of God’s household”
If you could see the church where my family attends, then you would see four separate buildings: the shelter house, the education building, the sanctuary, and the parsonage. Side-by-side, these four building sit together, each one serving a distinct purpose in the life of the church (family). Since September of last year, our church has been praying together as we search for our next pastor. As a member of the Pastor Search Committee, I have seen firsthand the patience, endurance, and direction needed within this search. God knew all along who He wanted to lead the congregation; we only needed to prayerfully wait for God to reveal the man to us. After several months, resumes, conversations, and tons of prayer, we now know who God wants as His under-shepherd. Now, we are one week away from “moving day,” and the church family has been diligently working together to prepare the parsonage where our new pastor will reside.
Fittingly, this morning, it is the parsonage, the house where the pastor and his family reside, that commands my attention. You see, as the church, we do not allow “strangers” to take up residence in this brick house but FAMILY. We know the ones who call this dwelling their home, & We know the ones who call this dwelling their home BELONG to the SAME FAMILY (as we do). In fact, even within all four buildings (the shelter house & the education building & the sanctuary & the parsonage) the people who belong to God through Christ are of the SAME HOUSEHOLD—GOD’S!
We are citizens of the same place, brothers and sisters, fitted together through & in Christ Jesus our Lord, and because we are, then we are “being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
The Apostle Paul speaks of this in his letter to the church residing in the city Ephesus. Let us pause to read together.
“So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
(Ephesians 2: 19-22 NASB)
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
To better understand this, I needed to return to the beginning: to Genesis. In this first book of the Bible, we read of a man Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah. Isaac grew to father two sons: Jacob and Esau, boys whose lives could be studied for days upon end, but it is Jacob who needs to be focused upon today as we see “God’s household.”
Isaac called in Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him to not take a wife from the Canaanites. Jacob obeyed his dad and departed toward the city of his mother’s brother (Laban). It was from that household where Jacob was supposed to take his wife. During the journey toward Haran, Jacob needed to rest, so he stopped in a place called Luz, where he laid down upon the ground to rest for the night. During that night, Jacob experienced a dream, and within his dream, the LORD spoke to him, saying:
“Then behold, the LORD was standing above it [the ladder stretching between heaven and earth] and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.
(Genesis 28: 13-17 NASB)
Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “The LORD is certainly in this place, and I did not know it!”
And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Then Jacob arose early in the morning, picked up a stone (the one he had rested his head upon during his night of rest), and set the stone up as a memorial stone. Jacob also changed the name of the place from Luz to Bethel. Then we read Jacob’s words:
“And this stone, which I have set up as a memorial stone, will be God’s house, and of everything that You give me I will assuredly give a tenth to You.”
(Genesis 28: 22 NASB)
- What causes us to bend down upon our knees before the Father?
- From whom has every family in heaven and on earth derived its name?
- Does God grant us (His children) the riches of His glory?
- Are we strengthened with His power through His Holy Spirit?
- Does the Holy Spirit of God dwell inside us?
- Does Christ Jesus dwell within our hearts through faith?
- Are we grounded in the love of Jesus?
“may [we] be able to comprehend with all the saints
(Ephesians 3: 18-21 NASB)
what is the width and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
The Holy Spirit will strengthen us today—IF we are willing to receive.
- May we take time to be empowered from within so that we may receive victory over our sin.
- May we stop living in our own strength.
- May we begin to rely upon God’s power and strength.
God formed us from the dust and then breathed the breath of life into our lungs.
That is the first birth—our physical birth.
The Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins, leading us to turn around & to receive the salvation of God.
That is the second birth—our Spiritual birth!
God longs to strengthen us for whatever lies ahead.
Therefore, so that we can always remember how we “are of God’s household,” & so that we can recall how we must rely upon the power of God who dwells within us from the moment of His salvation.
Let us end this discussion by focusing upon “God’s house.”
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
(1 Peter 2: 4-5 NASB)
you also, as living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,
to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
We who believe in Jesus & who have received the free gift of God’s salvation—BELONG to the SAME FAMILY—despite where we reside upon this earth.
We who belong to God through Christ are of the—SAME HOUSEHOLD, to GOD’S HOUSEHOLD—Thank You, JESUS!
- We are citizens of the same place!
- We are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- We are “being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
Those who belong to God’s Family have placed a spiritual marker, a stone that marks the day we first believed in Jesus, and we “have set up as a memorial stone, [and] will be God’s house, . . . .”
- May we comprehend this great gift we have received.
- May we strive to know God more through the study of His Word given to us.
- May we bring honor and glory to Jesus in all that we say, think, and do.
- May we never, ever forget (for a solitary moment) how we (God’s children) “are of God’s household.”