11th June 2017 - Stuart Bell - Building the House of the Lord

11^th June 2017

Stuart Bell

 

Building the house of the lord

Ephesians – church seen in different kinds of ways:

• As a Family

So we find church is a family – god is father – we are brothers and sisters

• As a body

Also you see church as a body – we are all part of body

• Husband & Wife

Also picture in Ephesians as husband and wife – bride of Christ

• As a temple

Also image of temple – of the holy spirit – living stones

Jews would see a temple as something to go to – if you wanted to meet with god – you would go to the temple – Solomon’s temple – Herods temple

Right back in Genesis there is a hint in Chapter 28 vs 13 that the Church is more than just a place to go there is a Heaven & Earth interaction – gate of heaven –

2 cornth 6 vs 16 – WE are temple of the holy spirit – when we gather together

• As an Army

Should be missional -taking territory – church as the army

What is the house of God meant to look like:

Mark Chap 11 Vs 15.

Jesus goes to the temple – but when he gets there – he’s not pleased, people of God in his day were very much like the people in Jeramiah prophesy – then he quotes Isaiah 56 – what the house of the IS meant to be.

Two prophesies

Jerimiah chapter 7:

As he locks at the people of God – they are coming to the temple but their lives do not align with what people of God should be like:

 

 

 

 

 

• Change your ways and deal with each other justly
• Den of robbers to you that I have been watching
• People drifted from the faith again

Jesus then Quotes from Isaiah 56

• House of prayer

Jerimiah filled with people thinking they are safe in the temple – but Jesus says misfits are welcome – a house of prayer

what does it mean to be building the house of prayer? 

does it mean building should be open more for prayer

Jesus taught them a patterned prayer and Stuart went on to look at the Lords Prayer and used it to describe the shape of a church:

7 things from the lord prayer that gives us an opening to :

1. A place of unity (psalm 133 – how good and how pleasant)
2. A place where God is honoured and worshiped
3. A place where Gods will is done and his kingdom comes
4. A place where daily needs are met
5. A place where love and forgiveness flows
6. A place of safety & protection
7. A place of glorious destiny

Exhibit these wonderful aspects of what a house of the lord looks like – Great images of what we are

QUESTIONS:

Look at these 7 things listed above – are we reflecting these things:

1. In our Church?
2. In our Homes?
3. In our lives?

Be honest with each other and pray that God will help you in areas