“This is what the Lord says, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is
the house you will build for me, and where will my resting place be?
Wow! What an awesome piece of scripture. I really feel the heart of God is revealed in these few sentences. In fact, the whole story of the bible is about God restoring the relationship that was lost in the garden, that place of glory and grace. For some mysterious reason, throughout history God has been working on our behalf to fix up the mess that we made in the first place. What a glorious saviour!
Personally, the phrase “what kind of house will you build for me” has been brewing in my heart. I feel it is crucial to get a biblical understanding for the type of house that God is looking to dwell in. All over the world, churches are being built, but what is vital is the type of house that is being built. In the world we see many different church movements, even traditional establishments, and cults and others. The bible seems to point to the fact that every structure will be tested with fire and only those that are made out of precious metals and stones will survive.
And yes, Jesus himself is committed himself to building his church, but we also see in scripture that God uses gifted leaders to initiate this building up of the church. So it is very crucial to be careful with the developing of a church- this is God’s building!
1. Living stones make God's house both individually and corporately.
- Ephesians 2:20:“Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself”
• 1 Peter2v5: “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.” - Corperate
• 1 Corinthians 6v9: “Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was give to you by God?” - Individual
So we see here that although there is collectively a construction taking place in the church; being built on the foundation of Jesus laid by apostles and prophets, there is also a individual level of the same idea- we are housing his glory corporately and individually. God dwells in the church, but also lives in you!
2. God is house hunting:
There is an element in this kind language that God is saying he would be homeless if there was no church. To be a bit blunt, God is house hunting on earth.
The wonderful mystery is that he is also looking for a home here on earth. Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom to come on earth as in heaven. Well, we always see this as: No sickness in heaven, lets pray for no sickness on earth, etc. But lets not forget- in the kingdom of heaven, there is the king who is enthroned and seated in his castle of glory, and we are called to pray for that to be here on earth! There is a longing in the heart of God to dwell in a resting place/home on earth, just as He is dwelling in heaven.
• We see this same duality in Isa 57:15:
“For this is what the high and exalted One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit; to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite”
• Psalm 132:13:
“For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem, he has desired it for his home. “This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired.”
The story of the bible is that God is busy restoring the perfection of the Garden of eden. If this is true, it follows that he wants to rebuild his home on earth, along with the fellowship of Adam. God is house hunting.
3. What kind of house is He looking for?
So I go back to the question I posed earlier God is asking the question, “What kind of house will you build for me?”
He is not looking for just any type of house- his eyes are searching for a specific kind of house. When you go looking for a house to live in, you have a list: how many bathrooms, bedrooms, and garage. Before you leave to look, you know what you are looking for. It’s the same with God. He knows what he is after. We have had a few glimpses into this so far- God saying that he will make His home in the one who is broken and contrite before him. We know that He will reject the proud and give grace to the humble ( _) and we also know that the proud cannot stand in his presence, and he knows them from afar.
So if God is going to find his resting place in our hearts, both individually and corporately, then the first step is to make sure that we have rid ourselves of pride. Jesus said that it is only those who are “poor in spirit” that can enter into the kingdom. What he was saying is that until you realise that you have nothing to offer him, until you understand that without him you have nothing, you cannot come into a place of faith to receive him.
Lets look at a NT example of this in the Church of Laodecia in Revelations 3 (MSG):
(v15) “I know the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, “I am rich, I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!” and you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to buy gold from me- gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so that you will not be ashamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will abe able to see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. “Look I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
If we understand these sorts of passages well we will be well on our way to building church in the way that pleases God.
God is rebuking this church and at first glance it seems as though he is rebuking them because they are rich. But actually, if you dig deeper you will see that he is actually rebuking their “rich attitude”. He is rebuking them for thinking that they have no needs, that they are capable, and independent. The bible says that “Without faith it is impossible to please God”, and that “Everything that is not born out of faith is sin.”
A heart that is in faith is a heart that is trusting in the promises of God- that God is al he says he is and that he will deliver on the promises he has made. The type of person that is in faith is the person that is dependant on God to work, and God to move, and God to show his salvation.
A heart that is in faith is not at work. The bible says that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Notice that word “credit”. Compare this verse with the verse “The wages of sin is death” We must remember that the only thing we have worked for is death, and that salvation is not dependant on us but on our creditor who credits our account freely. You cant work for a credit. A credit is given to you, you don’t deserve it like you would wages. Sin is our debt but salvation is a credit from God. Its unearned. Its given because of him.
Now this church had presented themselves to God as “capable” and efficient- they had an attitude that they lacked nothing, but they were fooling themselves because in reality they were cutting themselves off from the supply of life from God. They were trying to relate to God for the things that they had done
- In Galatians 5v20 (MSG)“When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit.”
And that is why God said I wish that you were rather hot or cold. I mean think about this- hot water is useful, and cold water is useful. But what can you do with luke warm water? Swamps are usually luke warm because the water just sits and doesn’t go anywhere. Rivers are normally fresh and cold and springs are normally nice and hot, but swamps are lukewarm. Lukewarm churches don’t go anywhere. Moving water is either hot or cold.
God can work with a cold church- he can revive it. He can work with a hot church in revival to use it for his purposes. And a lukewarm church? Forget. Why? Because faith is the key to receiving the credit. We read in Romans that Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. We believe, and then we receive. We cant receive through our agendas, programmes. All the things that we try hold up to God to try and earn his favour are like filthy rags. Faith is the key ingredient.
And so the answer to the question? What type of church is God looking for?
Answer: A faith-filled church.
- Jesus said , "When the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) God is looking for faith. and,
- "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who's hearts are fully devoted to him" (1 Chron 16:9)
• Isaiah30:15 “God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel. “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.” (MSG)
Application:
I heard at a recent conference that Mark Driscol was commenting on an experience he had while he was in India. While being hosted by some local people there he entered into the living room, and saw the whole room arranged around one centre piece- a shrine to their hindu Gods. And it reminded him that it’s the same in the west- we have our tv’s and they have their hindu idols.
My point is this: If we want to be the house for the Holy Spirit to enter in and have a meal in, then we need to make him the honoured guest. Everything must revolve around him. A guest will only stay as long as he feels welcome. By faith, establish the link with this Saviour and allow the Spirit of God in to the deep places of your heart. And after having done that, keep that attitude of dependence on him.
Test yourself! Are you the type of house God is looking for? Its not hard to make some alterations, some adjustments. Are you dependant on him or independent in yourself? Do you think you have all you need? Is your heart broken and contrite before God, knowing that you have nothing that didn’t come from him? Put Him again as the shrine of your house. Let everything revolve around him.
Lastly, I want to leave with you an incentive.
In one of the earlier verses we saw this:
• Isa 57:15:“For this is what the high and exalted One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit; to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite”
The purpose of God making his habitation in our hearts is for revival. He promises to enrich our lives- blessed are those who hunger for righteousness for they will be filled!
God will bring revival to your life. He will fill you. He will bless you.
A heart that is in faith is the kind of house that God is looking for.
Is that what your house looks like?
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