1 00:00:00,380 --> 00:00:06,720 We will please turn to 1 Peter, 1 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:11,920 Peter 2, verse 5. 3 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,520 1 Peter 2, verse 5. 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:28,460 Yourselves also, as living stones, are being built 5 00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:34,040 up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to 6 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:39,960 offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus 7 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:40,560 Christ. 8 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:44,900 Genesis, chapter 28. 9 00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:51,680 Genesis, chapter 28. 10 00:00:52,420 --> 00:00:54,300 We will read from verse 10. 11 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,880 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went 12 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:01,600 to a town. 13 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,000 And he landed on a certain place, and 14 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,880 was there, because the sun had set. 15 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,300 And he took one of the stones of 16 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:13,560 that place, and laid it his pillow, and 17 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,120 lay down in that place. 18 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:16,700 And he dreamed. 19 00:01:17,460 --> 00:01:20,000 And behold, a ladder was set up on 20 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,500 the earth, and the top of it reached 21 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:23,260 to the heavens. 22 00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:28,100 And behold, angels of God ascended and descended 23 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:28,760 upon it. 24 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,260 And behold, Jehovah stood above it. 25 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:35,900 And he said, I am Jehovah, the God 26 00:01:35,900 --> 00:01:38,660 of Abraham thy father, and the God of 27 00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:39,180 Isaac. 28 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:41,980 The land on which thou liest, to thee 29 00:01:41,980 --> 00:01:44,880 I will I give it, and to thy 30 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:45,280 seed. 31 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,020 And thy seed shall be as the dust 32 00:01:48,020 --> 00:01:50,700 of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad 33 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:52,900 to the west, and to the east, and 34 00:01:52,900 --> 00:01:54,980 to the north, and to the south. 35 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,300 And in thee, and in thy seed, shall 36 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,560 all the families of the earth be blessed. 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,840 And behold, I am with thee, and will 38 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,180 keep thee in all places to which thou 39 00:02:10,180 --> 00:02:12,920 goest, and will bring thee again into this 40 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:13,240 land. 41 00:02:13,660 --> 00:02:17,100 For I will not leave thee until I 42 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:19,640 have done what I have spoken to thee 43 00:02:19,640 --> 00:02:19,940 of. 44 00:02:20,740 --> 00:02:23,980 And Jacob awoke from his sleep, and said, 45 00:02:24,100 --> 00:02:27,120 Surely Jehovah is in this place, and I 46 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:27,760 knew it not. 47 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,560 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful 48 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:32,540 is this place! 49 00:02:32,940 --> 00:02:35,060 This is none other than the house of 50 00:02:35,060 --> 00:02:38,120 God, and this is the gate of heaven. 51 00:02:38,740 --> 00:02:41,080 And Jacob rose early in the morning, and 52 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:43,200 took the stone that he had made his 53 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,880 pillow, and set it up for a pillar, 54 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:48,800 and poured oil on the top of it. 55 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,140 And he called the name of that place, 56 00:02:52,540 --> 00:02:53,240 Bethel. 57 00:02:53,780 --> 00:02:55,760 For the name of that city was Luz, 58 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:56,780 at the first. 59 00:02:57,420 --> 00:03:00,440 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God 60 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,200 will be with me, and keep me on 61 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,620 this road that I go, and will give 62 00:03:05,620 --> 00:03:07,880 me bread to eat, and a garment to 63 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,040 put on, and I come again to my 64 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,600 father's house in peace, then shall Jehovah be 65 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:14,320 my God. 66 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,460 And this stone, which I have set up 67 00:03:18,460 --> 00:03:21,460 for a pillar, shall be God's house, and 68 00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:24,040 of all that thou wilt give me, I 69 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,500 will without fail give the tenth to thee. 70 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:32,320 And then the book of Revelation, chapter 21. 71 00:03:34,900 --> 00:03:37,180 Revelation, chapter 21. 72 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,480 We begin with verse 1, through verse 7. 73 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:48,680 And I saw a new heaven and a 74 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,280 new earth, for the first heaven and the 75 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,460 first earth have passed away, and the sea 76 00:03:54,460 --> 00:03:55,940 exists no more. 77 00:03:59,510 --> 00:04:02,170 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 78 00:04:02,770 --> 00:04:05,250 coming down out of the heaven from God, 79 00:04:05,810 --> 00:04:09,570 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 80 00:04:09,570 --> 00:04:12,190 And I heard a loud voice out of 81 00:04:12,190 --> 00:04:16,110 the heaven, saying, Behold, the terminator of God 82 00:04:16,110 --> 00:04:18,790 is with men, and he shall terminate her 83 00:04:18,790 --> 00:04:21,089 with them, and they shall be his people, 84 00:04:21,530 --> 00:04:23,790 and God himself shall be with them, their 85 00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:24,110 God. 86 00:04:24,590 --> 00:04:26,970 And he shall wipe away every tear from 87 00:04:26,970 --> 00:04:30,750 their eyes, and there shall not exist any 88 00:04:30,750 --> 00:04:34,790 more, nor grief, nor cry, nor discourage shall 89 00:04:34,790 --> 00:04:37,890 exist any more, for the former things have 90 00:04:37,890 --> 00:04:38,570 passed away. 91 00:04:38,570 --> 00:04:40,890 And he that sat on the throne said, 92 00:04:40,990 --> 00:04:43,350 Behold, I make all things new. 93 00:04:43,970 --> 00:04:46,270 And he says to me, Write, for these 94 00:04:46,270 --> 00:04:48,710 words are true and faithful. 95 00:04:49,490 --> 00:04:51,090 And he said to me, It is done. 96 00:04:52,070 --> 00:04:54,790 I am the author and the maker, the 97 00:04:54,790 --> 00:04:55,970 beginning and the end. 98 00:04:56,430 --> 00:04:58,350 I will give to him the first of 99 00:04:58,350 --> 00:05:00,750 the fountain of the water of life freely. 100 00:05:00,750 --> 00:05:05,790 He that overcomes shall inherit these things, and 101 00:05:05,790 --> 00:05:08,250 I will be to him God, and he 102 00:05:08,250 --> 00:05:10,630 shall be to me Son. 103 00:05:11,290 --> 00:05:12,010 Shall we pray? 104 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:24,020 Dear Heavenly Father, we do praise and thank 105 00:05:24,020 --> 00:05:29,100 Thee that through Thy beloved Son, Thou has 106 00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:31,920 drawn us unto Thyself. 107 00:05:33,020 --> 00:05:35,820 We are now in Thy presence. 108 00:05:39,430 --> 00:05:43,610 We do open our hearts to Thee, and 109 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:48,050 ask Thee to speak to us from Thy 110 00:05:48,050 --> 00:05:50,690 throne between the cherubim. 111 00:05:52,510 --> 00:05:56,990 We pray that Thou will give us ears 112 00:05:56,990 --> 00:05:58,390 that can hear. 113 00:05:59,350 --> 00:06:02,510 We ask Thee to deliver us from familiarity. 114 00:06:02,510 --> 00:06:09,430 We pray Thou will give us fresh, living 115 00:06:09,430 --> 00:06:14,490 revelation that we may see what Thou art 116 00:06:14,490 --> 00:06:17,890 after, that we may long for Thou dost 117 00:06:17,890 --> 00:06:22,170 desire, that we may give ourselves for what 118 00:06:22,170 --> 00:06:23,930 Thou art after. 119 00:06:24,470 --> 00:06:27,090 We do commit this time into Thy hands. 120 00:06:27,090 --> 00:06:30,750 We do acknowledge that unless Thou dost speak, 121 00:06:31,430 --> 00:06:33,310 human words obey. 122 00:06:34,470 --> 00:06:39,750 Lord, speak, Thy servant hearing. 123 00:06:40,810 --> 00:06:42,670 We ask in the name of our Lord 124 00:06:42,670 --> 00:06:43,050 Jesus. 125 00:06:43,450 --> 00:06:44,250 Amen. 126 00:06:52,540 --> 00:06:56,480 I believe we all know that the theme 127 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,940 that God seems to give us for this 128 00:06:59,940 --> 00:07:03,720 time is spiritual health. 129 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:13,040 Because we are actually touching upon the purpose, 130 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:16,420 the eternal purpose of God. 131 00:07:18,420 --> 00:07:24,020 God has a purpose, which He purposed in 132 00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:25,080 His beloved Son. 133 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,540 And He purposed that even before the foundation 134 00:07:29,540 --> 00:07:30,400 of the world. 135 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:39,320 And what He has purposed for Himself in 136 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:45,870 His Son is a house, a dwelling place, 137 00:07:47,110 --> 00:07:47,650 a home. 138 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:58,190 God created the heavens and the earth, but 139 00:07:58,190 --> 00:08:01,690 these are not His home. 140 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:05,310 His house, His dwelling place. 141 00:08:06,310 --> 00:08:09,970 His desire is to dwell among men. 142 00:08:10,930 --> 00:08:15,770 And that's the reason why you and I 143 00:08:15,770 --> 00:08:16,850 are created. 144 00:08:18,430 --> 00:08:25,560 He created us men to fulfill that longing 145 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:26,520 of His heart. 146 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,980 He wants to dwell among men. 147 00:08:31,780 --> 00:08:36,760 He wants to make men His eternal home. 148 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,140 That men may also find their eternal home 149 00:08:43,140 --> 00:08:44,420 in Him. 150 00:08:45,260 --> 00:08:48,400 And this is God's purpose. 151 00:08:51,210 --> 00:08:56,210 Now brothers and sisters, I feel as we 152 00:08:56,210 --> 00:09:01,110 touch upon this matter of spiritual health, we 153 00:09:01,110 --> 00:09:02,450 have a problem here. 154 00:09:02,450 --> 00:09:06,290 And the problem is we are so familiar 155 00:09:06,290 --> 00:09:10,130 with all these terms. 156 00:09:11,670 --> 00:09:16,970 We are familiar with house, God's house. 157 00:09:17,830 --> 00:09:22,250 We are familiar with church, the church of 158 00:09:22,250 --> 00:09:22,630 God. 159 00:09:23,310 --> 00:09:26,130 Now all these things are so familiar to 160 00:09:26,130 --> 00:09:26,470 us. 161 00:09:27,390 --> 00:09:30,470 And because of that, somehow I'm afraid. 162 00:09:30,470 --> 00:09:35,280 We have lost that cutting edge. 163 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:37,160 That conviction. 164 00:09:38,660 --> 00:09:39,480 That commitment. 165 00:09:40,740 --> 00:09:45,920 That is necessary when we touch upon the 166 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:47,420 eternal purpose of God. 167 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:50,180 So we are just looking to the Lord 168 00:09:50,180 --> 00:09:54,460 that He will enable us to forget all 169 00:09:54,460 --> 00:09:56,940 that we have known in the past. 170 00:09:57,660 --> 00:10:02,440 About the house, the dwelling place, the church. 171 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:06,500 Now let's forget everything that we have known. 172 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,340 And just come to Him as a little 173 00:10:09,340 --> 00:10:09,820 child. 174 00:10:10,820 --> 00:10:17,960 That we may receive living revelation from Him. 175 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:23,580 And really be drawn into the purpose of 176 00:10:23,580 --> 00:10:23,900 God. 177 00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:26,120 And be part of it. 178 00:10:26,860 --> 00:10:29,340 So this is really our prayer. 179 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:35,200 Now I have mentioned last night that the 180 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,780 house that God is after is not a 181 00:10:37,780 --> 00:10:38,640 physical one. 182 00:10:40,180 --> 00:10:44,680 Unfortunately that's always what we think He desires. 183 00:10:46,710 --> 00:10:49,070 He wants a spiritual house. 184 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,240 He can only dwell in a spiritual house. 185 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,060 Because the heaven and the heavens cannot contain 186 00:10:59,060 --> 00:10:59,420 Him. 187 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,880 He is too big for the physical universe. 188 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,080 And He is spirit. 189 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:12,660 So what He desires is a spiritual house. 190 00:11:13,420 --> 00:11:19,340 And He wants to find that house in 191 00:11:19,340 --> 00:11:19,700 man. 192 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,500 And you can see right away that man 193 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:28,060 has to be spiritual in order to be 194 00:11:28,060 --> 00:11:28,660 His house. 195 00:11:29,380 --> 00:11:31,800 And that's the reason why you find in 196 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:36,540 Isaiah it is said, To those whom God 197 00:11:36,540 --> 00:11:42,180 would look are those who are of afflicted 198 00:11:42,180 --> 00:11:44,180 and contrite spirit. 199 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:47,580 And who tremble at the word of God. 200 00:11:47,580 --> 00:11:50,800 Because it is not just any kind of 201 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:51,100 man. 202 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:56,400 It is spiritual man that God wants to 203 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,460 build His spiritual house. 204 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,140 Now for this morning we would like to 205 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:06,060 focus on the meaning of God's house. 206 00:12:12,140 --> 00:12:14,940 The first mentioning of the house of God 207 00:12:14,940 --> 00:12:20,180 is found in Genesis chapter 28. 208 00:12:21,180 --> 00:12:24,180 I believe we are again familiar with the 209 00:12:24,180 --> 00:12:24,580 story. 210 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,880 Jacob the twister. 211 00:12:32,130 --> 00:12:36,170 He stole not only the birthright but the 212 00:12:36,170 --> 00:12:41,010 blessing of the firstborn from his brother. 213 00:12:42,270 --> 00:12:44,350 And because of this he had to flee 214 00:12:44,350 --> 00:12:45,890 for his life. 215 00:12:53,300 --> 00:12:55,800 He was in the wilderness. 216 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,880 And the sun was set. 217 00:13:03,380 --> 00:13:07,140 So he took a stone and made that 218 00:13:07,140 --> 00:13:08,380 stone a pillar. 219 00:13:10,180 --> 00:13:12,840 To lay his head upon. 220 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,520 Now brothers and sisters that very picture will 221 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:18,100 show you. 222 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:24,640 How miserable, how pitiful, how sad. 223 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,340 Is the situation. 224 00:13:30,460 --> 00:13:36,140 And yet in the most unlikely place. 225 00:13:36,580 --> 00:13:37,700 The desert. 226 00:13:39,220 --> 00:13:42,200 To the most unlikely person. 227 00:13:42,940 --> 00:13:45,400 Jacob the supplanter. 228 00:13:46,560 --> 00:13:49,780 Under the most unlikely environment. 229 00:13:51,060 --> 00:13:54,740 Because he was fleeing from his brother. 230 00:13:55,740 --> 00:13:57,460 Away from his home. 231 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,380 A homeless person. 232 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:08,980 And yet you find the first mention of 233 00:14:08,980 --> 00:14:11,880 the house of God was revealed. 234 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:16,620 So brothers and sisters I do feel. 235 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,460 That it is not because of what we 236 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:21,860 are. 237 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,900 It is because of the mercy of God. 238 00:14:29,380 --> 00:14:32,180 You know it is the mercy of God 239 00:14:32,180 --> 00:14:37,920 that he should reveal his house to his 240 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:38,340 people. 241 00:14:39,140 --> 00:14:41,760 Not because we deserve it. 242 00:14:43,260 --> 00:14:45,580 It is all of God's mercy. 243 00:14:48,980 --> 00:14:50,880 Jacob dreamed a dream. 244 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,320 And in that dream he saw a ladder. 245 00:14:55,260 --> 00:14:58,200 Set up in reach to heaven. 246 00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:01,600 And God was stationed there. 247 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,360 At the top of the ladder. 248 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:08,740 And Jacob of course was sleeping at the 249 00:15:08,740 --> 00:15:10,220 foot of the ladder. 250 00:15:11,060 --> 00:15:14,540 And the angels of God ascending and descending. 251 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,040 Very busy. 252 00:15:17,420 --> 00:15:18,600 Upon that ladder. 253 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,360 And God spoke to him. 254 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:29,620 Brothers and sisters. 255 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:36,560 This is the first revelation of the house 256 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:37,400 of God. 257 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,340 What is the house of God? 258 00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:49,560 The house of God is the union and 259 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:55,320 communion of God and man in Christ Jesus. 260 00:15:55,940 --> 00:16:02,610 That is the house of God. 261 00:16:02,770 --> 00:16:06,750 We know today what that ladder is. 262 00:16:06,750 --> 00:16:10,430 Because you remember in John chapter 1 verse 263 00:16:10,430 --> 00:16:11,150 51. 264 00:16:12,470 --> 00:16:14,170 There was Nathanael. 265 00:16:15,670 --> 00:16:17,470 That honest Jew. 266 00:16:22,730 --> 00:16:24,250 And he was led to the Lord. 267 00:16:26,530 --> 00:16:30,030 He couldn't believe that anything good can come 268 00:16:30,030 --> 00:16:31,090 out of Nazareth. 269 00:16:33,180 --> 00:16:34,960 And yet when the Lord saw him. 270 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:38,900 The Lord said I saw you under that 271 00:16:38,900 --> 00:16:39,440 fig tree. 272 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:44,000 Now strangely you find when the Lord said 273 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:45,920 I saw you under that fig tree. 274 00:16:46,060 --> 00:16:49,300 Immediately he said my Lord, my God. 275 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:51,240 Why? 276 00:16:51,380 --> 00:16:55,300 Because he was a true Israelite. 277 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,720 Evidently under that fig tree. 278 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:03,859 He was dreaming about that kingdom. 279 00:17:05,619 --> 00:17:08,599 Because the fig tree is a type of 280 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:08,960 Israel. 281 00:17:09,819 --> 00:17:13,560 He was dreaming of the kingdom, the Messiah. 282 00:17:14,540 --> 00:17:15,660 Messianic kingdom. 283 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,640 He was longing for that kingdom to come. 284 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,099 So when the Lord said I saw you 285 00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:24,200 under that fig tree. 286 00:17:25,180 --> 00:17:28,140 The Lord really spoke to his heart. 287 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,060 And immediately he realized that this is the 288 00:17:32,060 --> 00:17:32,520 Messiah. 289 00:17:34,530 --> 00:17:36,790 But the Lord said you are going to 290 00:17:36,790 --> 00:17:37,770 see something bigger. 291 00:17:38,550 --> 00:17:40,810 You know he was only thinking of the 292 00:17:40,810 --> 00:17:41,890 Messianic kingdom. 293 00:17:43,130 --> 00:17:44,490 That's big, yes. 294 00:17:45,970 --> 00:17:49,450 But there is something bigger than that. 295 00:17:50,130 --> 00:17:53,750 And the Lord said you shall see the 296 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:54,390 angels. 297 00:17:54,790 --> 00:17:59,230 Ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. 298 00:18:00,290 --> 00:18:01,590 Now brothers and sisters. 299 00:18:02,910 --> 00:18:05,190 Here you find that ladder. 300 00:18:06,110 --> 00:18:08,690 That ladder is the Son of Man. 301 00:18:09,650 --> 00:18:12,490 He who is the Son of God. 302 00:18:13,190 --> 00:18:15,670 He who is equal with God. 303 00:18:16,490 --> 00:18:18,470 He who is in the form of God. 304 00:18:20,090 --> 00:18:21,710 He emptied himself. 305 00:18:22,890 --> 00:18:25,650 And took upon himself the form of a 306 00:18:25,650 --> 00:18:26,150 slave. 307 00:18:26,910 --> 00:18:29,150 Even the fashion of a man. 308 00:18:30,310 --> 00:18:31,790 He came into this world. 309 00:18:31,790 --> 00:18:34,930 To become the Son of Man. 310 00:18:37,170 --> 00:18:37,570 Why? 311 00:18:38,350 --> 00:18:41,930 Because he was to be that ladder. 312 00:18:42,990 --> 00:18:45,190 He is the one who is to connect 313 00:18:45,190 --> 00:18:46,850 earth with heaven. 314 00:18:47,470 --> 00:18:48,910 Heaven and earth. 315 00:18:49,590 --> 00:18:52,650 He is the one who is to bring 316 00:18:52,650 --> 00:18:54,030 God and man. 317 00:18:54,350 --> 00:18:56,410 Man and God together. 318 00:18:59,140 --> 00:19:03,680 He is the only way that we can 319 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,400 come to God. 320 00:19:06,180 --> 00:19:08,820 He is the only way that God can 321 00:19:08,820 --> 00:19:10,260 come to us. 322 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,400 And not only he brings God and man 323 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:14,900 together. 324 00:19:15,860 --> 00:19:20,440 But you find there is a communion between 325 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:21,920 man and God. 326 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,660 The angels who are ascending and descending on 327 00:19:26,660 --> 00:19:27,200 that ladder. 328 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:32,200 We know angels are ministry servants. 329 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:34,240 They are minister. 330 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:36,600 God to man. 331 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:40,760 And they minister man to God. 332 00:19:41,140 --> 00:19:45,600 In other words you find that through the 333 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,640 work of the angels. 334 00:19:47,940 --> 00:19:51,100 They are trying to bring what Christ has 335 00:19:51,100 --> 00:19:52,240 done for us. 336 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,600 Into our life. 337 00:19:56,980 --> 00:19:58,900 So brothers and sisters. 338 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:03,480 The first meaning of the house of God. 339 00:20:05,490 --> 00:20:11,670 Is the coming together of God and man 340 00:20:11,670 --> 00:20:13,530 in Christ Jesus. 341 00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:22,030 The union of life with God. 342 00:20:22,770 --> 00:20:27,090 The communion that God and man will have. 343 00:20:28,530 --> 00:20:33,690 Now God stanching himself at the top of 344 00:20:33,690 --> 00:20:34,090 the ladder. 345 00:20:35,650 --> 00:20:38,310 And he spoke to Jacob. 346 00:20:39,110 --> 00:20:41,810 He said I am the God of your 347 00:20:41,810 --> 00:20:42,710 father Abraham. 348 00:20:43,250 --> 00:20:44,170 The God of Isaac. 349 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:53,740 The place that you sleep now will be 350 00:20:53,740 --> 00:20:54,140 yours. 351 00:20:58,660 --> 00:20:59,600 I will bless you. 352 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:04,400 And your seed shall be as the sand 353 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:05,400 on the seashore. 354 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:07,360 And the land. 355 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,300 East, West, North, South. 356 00:21:11,900 --> 00:21:13,860 Shall all be given to you. 357 00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:17,840 And in thee and in thy seed. 358 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,880 All the families of the nation shall be 359 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:22,260 blessed. 360 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:25,400 I will be with you. 361 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,940 Until all that I have said shall be 362 00:21:34,940 --> 00:21:35,280 done. 363 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,820 Now here you find God is the giver. 364 00:21:41,820 --> 00:21:43,700 He is there giving everything. 365 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,700 And Jacob is the receiver. 366 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:51,500 He is there receiving. 367 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,200 But unfortunately you find that. 368 00:21:56,660 --> 00:21:59,400 After God has spoken to him. 369 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:00,740 He woke up. 370 00:22:03,570 --> 00:22:04,910 He woke up and said. 371 00:22:06,530 --> 00:22:09,810 He doesn't know that God is here. 372 00:22:11,190 --> 00:22:14,190 How dreadful is this place. 373 00:22:17,070 --> 00:22:19,190 In a sense you know Jacob knew. 374 00:22:20,110 --> 00:22:22,990 That he wasn't fit for God. 375 00:22:24,190 --> 00:22:25,570 God is holy. 376 00:22:26,630 --> 00:22:27,150 And yet. 377 00:22:28,470 --> 00:22:29,330 Look at Jacob. 378 00:22:30,150 --> 00:22:32,610 What a person he is. 379 00:22:32,610 --> 00:22:33,970 He understood that. 380 00:22:34,850 --> 00:22:37,830 So when that revelation was given to him. 381 00:22:38,450 --> 00:22:39,970 He said it was a surprise. 382 00:22:41,430 --> 00:22:44,050 He didn't know that God was present there 383 00:22:44,050 --> 00:22:44,670 with him. 384 00:22:46,330 --> 00:22:49,610 Who would think that God would be with 385 00:22:49,610 --> 00:22:51,010 such a person. 386 00:22:52,490 --> 00:22:54,170 And yet God was there. 387 00:22:55,530 --> 00:22:57,570 He felt it was a dreadful place. 388 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,840 You know brothers and sisters. 389 00:23:01,020 --> 00:23:02,960 Today when we talk about the house of 390 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:03,260 God. 391 00:23:03,740 --> 00:23:05,040 We feel so dear. 392 00:23:06,020 --> 00:23:07,120 So good. 393 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:08,500 So comfortable. 394 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:10,360 So peaceful. 395 00:23:12,180 --> 00:23:13,780 I think that's our problem. 396 00:23:16,970 --> 00:23:20,090 Because if we can really see. 397 00:23:20,590 --> 00:23:23,130 How dreadful is this place. 398 00:23:23,750 --> 00:23:24,910 I think there is hope. 399 00:23:29,150 --> 00:23:30,670 We make it too common. 400 00:23:32,010 --> 00:23:35,390 As if the presence of God. 401 00:23:36,970 --> 00:23:38,090 Is nothing. 402 00:23:41,740 --> 00:23:44,460 The presence of God demands a lot. 403 00:23:46,670 --> 00:23:47,550 And Jacob knew it. 404 00:23:48,650 --> 00:23:51,530 He knew he was totally unfit for God. 405 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,160 God came to him. 406 00:23:56,260 --> 00:23:57,360 And he was afraid. 407 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:00,020 And yet. 408 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:01,500 He knew. 409 00:24:02,340 --> 00:24:03,560 That's the house of God. 410 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:08,600 God wanted to be with man. 411 00:24:09,540 --> 00:24:12,880 God wanted to be joined together. 412 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,380 Even with Jacob. 413 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:16,700 He knew that. 414 00:24:18,180 --> 00:24:20,620 He said this is the house of God. 415 00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:21,840 The gate. 416 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:27,340 But how did he react. 417 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,780 To this great revelation of the house of 418 00:24:31,780 --> 00:24:32,060 God. 419 00:24:32,860 --> 00:24:34,800 You know the house of God is a 420 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:35,740 greater thing. 421 00:24:35,740 --> 00:24:37,740 Than the messianic kingdom. 422 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,440 Because it is universal. 423 00:24:46,780 --> 00:24:47,420 And yet. 424 00:24:47,700 --> 00:24:53,480 Jacob was so limited by his petty self. 425 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,020 In a sense you can see that Jacob 426 00:24:57,020 --> 00:24:59,940 just couldn't rise above himself. 427 00:25:04,030 --> 00:25:05,550 How did Jacob responded. 428 00:25:06,590 --> 00:25:08,310 On the one hand he understood. 429 00:25:10,090 --> 00:25:11,450 This is the house of God. 430 00:25:11,450 --> 00:25:14,170 God was after a house. 431 00:25:15,790 --> 00:25:18,570 God wanted to be united with man. 432 00:25:19,230 --> 00:25:21,190 Through Christ Jesus. 433 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,960 He knew that God was desiring for communion. 434 00:25:29,060 --> 00:25:29,800 With man. 435 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:33,100 He knew all these things. 436 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,560 He knew that's what it was all about. 437 00:25:36,220 --> 00:25:37,560 And yet on the other hand. 438 00:25:37,780 --> 00:25:40,460 He just couldn't take it in. 439 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:42,460 He couldn't understand. 440 00:25:42,460 --> 00:25:51,630 He just couldn't. 441 00:25:53,130 --> 00:25:54,650 Rise above himself. 442 00:25:55,350 --> 00:25:56,090 He was Jacob. 443 00:25:58,340 --> 00:26:00,240 So he began to bargain with God. 444 00:26:02,420 --> 00:26:04,380 If you say he did not believe in 445 00:26:04,380 --> 00:26:04,720 God. 446 00:26:05,260 --> 00:26:06,300 That God would say. 447 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:07,540 I think he did. 448 00:26:08,620 --> 00:26:10,040 But the problem is. 449 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,320 He was so confined. 450 00:26:13,780 --> 00:26:15,240 By his own self. 451 00:26:16,620 --> 00:26:19,160 So God gave him great promises. 452 00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:20,540 And yet. 453 00:26:21,270 --> 00:26:24,980 He bargained with God for little things. 454 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:27,340 Because that's all. 455 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:28,780 He understood. 456 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:32,580 He said if. 457 00:26:37,490 --> 00:26:38,810 He couldn't trust anybody. 458 00:26:40,150 --> 00:26:41,690 He couldn't even trust God. 459 00:26:43,150 --> 00:26:44,170 So he said if. 460 00:26:45,150 --> 00:26:47,610 Now you gave me all these great promises. 461 00:26:48,530 --> 00:26:48,790 Alright. 462 00:26:49,230 --> 00:26:49,530 If. 463 00:26:50,770 --> 00:26:54,370 If you gave me food to eat. 464 00:26:55,370 --> 00:26:58,250 If you gave me a garment to put 465 00:26:58,250 --> 00:26:58,650 on. 466 00:27:00,390 --> 00:27:04,990 If you will lead me peacefully back home. 467 00:27:05,970 --> 00:27:08,950 Then I will make you my God. 468 00:27:11,810 --> 00:27:15,710 And I will use this pillow. 469 00:27:16,710 --> 00:27:18,590 And he set it up as a pillar. 470 00:27:19,330 --> 00:27:23,010 And this pillar shall be thy house. 471 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:27,930 And I will give you one tenth of 472 00:27:27,930 --> 00:27:29,890 all that I have. 473 00:27:32,610 --> 00:27:33,110 Wonderful. 474 00:27:45,470 --> 00:27:46,090 You know. 475 00:27:49,420 --> 00:27:52,980 He was thinking all of himself. 476 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,820 He didn't understand that the revelation of God's 477 00:27:58,820 --> 00:27:59,300 house. 478 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:01,980 Is for God. 479 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:07,680 He was self-centered. 480 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,560 Not God-centered. 481 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,740 He was interested only in himself. 482 00:28:15,780 --> 00:28:16,860 His own right there. 483 00:28:17,540 --> 00:28:21,340 He wasn't interested in God's interest. 484 00:28:28,260 --> 00:28:29,500 He was so limited. 485 00:28:31,060 --> 00:28:32,020 By himself. 486 00:28:33,140 --> 00:28:34,480 And even with. 487 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:37,200 God gave him food to eat. 488 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:39,340 Garment to put on. 489 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,260 And eventually led him safely home. 490 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:44,720 He said alright. 491 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:47,880 This pillar shall be thy house. 492 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:48,640 In other words. 493 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:51,820 You find he is only thinking of the 494 00:28:51,820 --> 00:28:52,320 physical. 495 00:28:52,860 --> 00:28:55,920 As if God wants a physical house. 496 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,520 He did not understand. 497 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:07,120 That God wants to make Jacob his house. 498 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,400 And in order to make Jacob his house. 499 00:29:11,860 --> 00:29:15,040 God had to transform Jacob into Israel. 500 00:29:17,860 --> 00:29:20,540 It is not so much of what Jacob 501 00:29:20,540 --> 00:29:21,360 will do. 502 00:29:22,660 --> 00:29:24,780 To build God a house. 503 00:29:26,340 --> 00:29:28,180 And as a matter of fact a pillar 504 00:29:28,180 --> 00:29:29,680 is not a house. 505 00:29:33,670 --> 00:29:35,110 It is not his service. 506 00:29:36,610 --> 00:29:40,150 It is God who is working for that 507 00:29:40,150 --> 00:29:40,670 house. 508 00:29:41,750 --> 00:29:42,750 In Jacob. 509 00:29:43,490 --> 00:29:46,730 By transforming him into Israel. 510 00:29:47,730 --> 00:29:53,230 So that God can be united with him 511 00:29:53,230 --> 00:29:53,950 in life. 512 00:29:55,190 --> 00:29:59,110 And also there can be that communion. 513 00:30:01,430 --> 00:30:02,590 Now he did not understand. 514 00:30:04,870 --> 00:30:06,390 But thank God. 515 00:30:09,710 --> 00:30:12,530 Twenty some years later. 516 00:30:13,870 --> 00:30:16,690 After God had dealt with that man. 517 00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:18,310 You remember. 518 00:30:19,010 --> 00:30:20,530 In Genesis 35. 519 00:30:20,530 --> 00:30:24,570 Eventually he went back to Bethel. 520 00:30:25,530 --> 00:30:27,510 He called this place Bethel. 521 00:30:27,870 --> 00:30:28,910 The house of God. 522 00:30:29,410 --> 00:30:32,030 And eventually he went back to Bethel. 523 00:30:32,650 --> 00:30:34,550 And when he went back to Bethel. 524 00:30:35,250 --> 00:30:36,470 He built an altar. 525 00:30:37,450 --> 00:30:40,670 And he called that place. 526 00:30:41,550 --> 00:30:43,450 El Bethel. 527 00:30:44,450 --> 00:30:48,250 The God of the house of God. 528 00:30:48,250 --> 00:30:50,390 Now brothers and sisters. 529 00:30:51,370 --> 00:30:57,180 An altar is an expression of communion. 530 00:30:58,400 --> 00:31:01,880 So finally we find Jacob beginning to understand. 531 00:31:02,620 --> 00:31:04,680 What God is really after. 532 00:31:06,220 --> 00:31:07,100 In his life. 533 00:31:07,860 --> 00:31:09,860 God wants a house. 534 00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:14,020 That there will be union and communion. 535 00:31:16,170 --> 00:31:17,550 Now dear brothers and sisters. 536 00:31:18,470 --> 00:31:19,610 We laugh at Jacob. 537 00:31:20,610 --> 00:31:23,390 But how about ourselves. 538 00:31:28,180 --> 00:31:30,260 Do we have a revelation. 539 00:31:31,480 --> 00:31:35,030 Of the house of God. 540 00:31:35,210 --> 00:31:38,530 Or are we so wrapped up with ourselves. 541 00:31:39,570 --> 00:31:43,050 That even if that revelation is given. 542 00:31:43,890 --> 00:31:46,750 We do not understand. 543 00:31:49,940 --> 00:31:52,200 Maybe mentally we do. 544 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:54,940 Have some idea. 545 00:31:56,440 --> 00:31:58,160 This is the house of God. 546 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:00,260 The gate of heaven. 547 00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:04,080 And yet actually in our life. 548 00:32:05,020 --> 00:32:07,460 You find we are all wrapped up with 549 00:32:07,460 --> 00:32:08,140 ourselves. 550 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,680 We are still interested. 551 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:12,800 In our own interest. 552 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:15,460 And if we bargain with God. 553 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,080 And say now if throughout my life. 554 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:20,760 You give me food to eat. 555 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:23,160 Garment to wear. 556 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:25,440 And give me peace. 557 00:32:26,560 --> 00:32:27,200 Security. 558 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,180 Then I will make you my God. 559 00:32:30,740 --> 00:32:32,460 And I will also serve you. 560 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:34,260 I will build you a house. 561 00:32:34,540 --> 00:32:35,520 A physical one. 562 00:32:36,740 --> 00:32:37,640 Brothers and sisters. 563 00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:40,840 Is this not what we are doing today. 564 00:32:45,500 --> 00:32:48,800 Do we really understand what is the house 565 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:49,340 of God. 566 00:32:52,980 --> 00:32:54,220 Do we know that. 567 00:32:54,220 --> 00:32:58,480 That what he is really after is we. 568 00:32:58,760 --> 00:32:59,140 Us. 569 00:33:01,140 --> 00:33:03,960 Not what we can do for him. 570 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:07,240 But we. 571 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:11,340 We are what God is really after. 572 00:33:12,460 --> 00:33:15,160 Do we understand that in order that this 573 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:15,680 house. 574 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:17,720 May be a reality. 575 00:33:19,060 --> 00:33:21,300 He has to do much work in our 576 00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:21,760 lives. 577 00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:28,580 He has to transform us. 578 00:33:28,580 --> 00:33:30,200 From Jacob. 579 00:33:30,380 --> 00:33:31,240 We are all Jacob. 580 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:32,960 Into Israel. 581 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:34,580 Prince with God. 582 00:33:38,180 --> 00:33:39,380 Do we understand. 583 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:44,280 That he is longing for communion with us. 584 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,280 Union with us. 585 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:49,060 In Christ Jesus. 586 00:33:49,660 --> 00:33:51,120 Brothers and sisters. 587 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:53,820 I wonder. 588 00:33:59,870 --> 00:34:01,350 We need to be delivered. 589 00:34:02,210 --> 00:34:03,810 Out of ourselves. 590 00:34:06,590 --> 00:34:09,810 We need to be delivered from our self 591 00:34:09,810 --> 00:34:10,929 -centeredness. 592 00:34:12,090 --> 00:34:15,270 We need to deliver from self-interest. 593 00:34:16,510 --> 00:34:19,949 In order to really enter into. 594 00:34:21,270 --> 00:34:22,870 The house of God. 595 00:34:23,469 --> 00:34:24,370 That he is after. 596 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:29,940 So brothers and sisters. 597 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:30,920 I do feel. 598 00:34:33,070 --> 00:34:35,070 That it is a time for us to 599 00:34:35,070 --> 00:34:35,830 reconsider. 600 00:34:36,730 --> 00:34:37,650 Before the Lord. 601 00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:41,760 Before we really understand. 602 00:34:42,480 --> 00:34:43,760 What the house of God is. 603 00:34:48,070 --> 00:34:49,489 We as Jacob. 604 00:34:50,310 --> 00:34:51,250 Are we fit. 605 00:34:52,170 --> 00:34:54,290 To be one. 606 00:34:54,929 --> 00:34:55,770 With God. 607 00:34:56,390 --> 00:34:57,310 In Christ Jesus. 608 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,320 Do we realize that there are so much 609 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:03,200 in us. 610 00:35:05,020 --> 00:35:06,920 Almost all in us. 611 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:10,780 That needs to be drastically dealt with. 612 00:35:13,950 --> 00:35:15,810 Before we can be fit. 613 00:35:15,810 --> 00:35:18,170 To be his house. 614 00:35:19,570 --> 00:35:22,310 Do we understand that what we long for 615 00:35:22,310 --> 00:35:23,210 is communion. 616 00:35:24,850 --> 00:35:27,170 It is not what we can do for 617 00:35:27,170 --> 00:35:27,470 him. 618 00:35:28,890 --> 00:35:30,970 How many of us are busily. 619 00:35:32,530 --> 00:35:33,690 Serving him. 620 00:35:34,090 --> 00:35:36,510 Doing what we call Christian work. 621 00:35:37,490 --> 00:35:38,970 Involving many activities. 622 00:35:39,990 --> 00:35:41,150 Building the church. 623 00:35:41,310 --> 00:35:42,530 Painting the church. 624 00:35:42,770 --> 00:35:44,070 And so on and so forth. 625 00:35:44,070 --> 00:35:45,390 Brothers and sisters. 626 00:35:45,870 --> 00:35:48,070 Are these what really God is after. 627 00:35:50,840 --> 00:35:52,000 It is not after. 628 00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:53,800 A time with us. 629 00:35:55,100 --> 00:35:55,500 Mary. 630 00:35:56,300 --> 00:35:56,920 Has chosen. 631 00:35:58,360 --> 00:35:59,300 The better part. 632 00:36:01,790 --> 00:36:03,250 Now this is the house of God. 633 00:36:04,350 --> 00:36:05,650 So first of all. 634 00:36:05,710 --> 00:36:08,470 The house of God is union. 635 00:36:09,230 --> 00:36:10,210 And communion. 636 00:36:12,630 --> 00:36:14,090 Of God and man. 637 00:36:14,810 --> 00:36:16,270 In Christ Jesus. 638 00:36:16,270 --> 00:36:19,150 That is the house of God. 639 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:23,060 Secondly. 640 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:29,500 When you come to this metal of the 641 00:36:29,500 --> 00:36:30,260 house of God. 642 00:36:30,860 --> 00:36:32,440 You will find the cabinet. 643 00:36:34,770 --> 00:36:36,210 Let's read Exodus. 644 00:36:36,670 --> 00:36:37,650 Chapter 25. 645 00:36:45,490 --> 00:36:46,130 Exodus. 646 00:36:46,970 --> 00:36:47,850 Chapter 25. 647 00:36:50,240 --> 00:36:50,880 Verse 1. 648 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,440 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying. 649 00:36:53,680 --> 00:36:55,700 Speak unto the children of Israel. 650 00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:58,420 That they bring me a heave offering of 651 00:36:58,420 --> 00:36:58,740 everyone. 652 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:01,000 Whose heart prompted him. 653 00:37:01,000 --> 00:37:04,240 You shall take my heave offering. 654 00:37:04,680 --> 00:37:05,180 Verse 8. 655 00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,480 And they shall make me a sanctuary. 656 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:12,060 That I may dwell among them. 657 00:37:12,500 --> 00:37:14,800 According to all that I shall show thee. 658 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:16,400 The pattern of the tabernacle. 659 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,420 And the pattern of all the utensils thereof. 660 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:21,760 Even so shall ye make it. 661 00:37:22,900 --> 00:37:24,260 Verse 21. 662 00:37:27,300 --> 00:37:29,360 And thou shalt put a mercy seat upon 663 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:29,940 the ark. 664 00:37:29,940 --> 00:37:32,820 And shalt put in the ark the testimony 665 00:37:32,820 --> 00:37:34,480 that I shall give thee. 666 00:37:34,860 --> 00:37:36,940 And there will I meet with thee. 667 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,860 And will speak with thee from above the 668 00:37:39,860 --> 00:37:40,480 mercy seat. 669 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:42,420 From between the two cherubim. 670 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:45,360 Which are upon the ark of the testimony. 671 00:37:45,940 --> 00:37:49,000 Everything that I will give thee in commandment. 672 00:37:49,380 --> 00:37:51,480 Unto the children of Israel. 673 00:37:53,900 --> 00:37:56,520 After God delivered the children of Israel out 674 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:57,100 of Egypt. 675 00:37:58,340 --> 00:38:01,100 He brought them to Mount Sinai. 676 00:38:02,100 --> 00:38:07,180 Now when he delivered them out of Egypt. 677 00:38:08,500 --> 00:38:14,140 He didn't tell them why he delivered them. 678 00:38:15,220 --> 00:38:20,580 What was his purpose in delivering them. 679 00:38:21,420 --> 00:38:24,320 But after he brought them to Mount Sinai. 680 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,920 There you will find he revealed to them. 681 00:38:28,760 --> 00:38:30,480 Not only the ten commandments. 682 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,820 But also the tabernacle. 683 00:38:34,660 --> 00:38:39,480 Now unfortunately today we are more concerned or 684 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:41,840 we know more of the ten commandments. 685 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:45,940 As if on Mount Sinai God revealed nothing 686 00:38:45,940 --> 00:38:47,140 but the ten commandments. 687 00:38:48,380 --> 00:38:51,380 But actually you find that on Mount Sinai. 688 00:38:52,020 --> 00:38:56,480 God did reveal the ten commandments to the 689 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:57,360 children of Israel. 690 00:38:58,990 --> 00:39:01,790 As his testimony. 691 00:39:02,590 --> 00:39:05,430 As the law given to his people. 692 00:39:06,650 --> 00:39:07,730 But even more. 693 00:39:08,770 --> 00:39:12,110 You find God after he has given the 694 00:39:12,110 --> 00:39:12,990 ten commandments. 695 00:39:13,770 --> 00:39:14,690 The testimony. 696 00:39:15,490 --> 00:39:16,010 The law. 697 00:39:16,870 --> 00:39:20,710 He revealed to Moses the pattern of the 698 00:39:20,710 --> 00:39:21,290 tabernacle. 699 00:39:28,660 --> 00:39:33,120 He said let the people give a key 700 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:33,560 offering. 701 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:37,660 Now key offering is love offering. 702 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:42,520 In other words it is not something forced. 703 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:47,140 But it is something that you give out 704 00:39:47,140 --> 00:39:47,740 of love. 705 00:39:49,380 --> 00:39:51,340 With a redeemed people. 706 00:39:53,260 --> 00:39:57,100 God asked for a love offering. 707 00:39:59,180 --> 00:40:00,700 You know as a matter of fact. 708 00:40:01,820 --> 00:40:03,720 We who are redeemed. 709 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:07,360 We are bought with a price. 710 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:09,980 Even with the blood of our Lord Jesus. 711 00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:13,660 We are no longer ours. 712 00:40:14,180 --> 00:40:15,480 We are God's. 713 00:40:15,820 --> 00:40:16,920 We belong to him. 714 00:40:17,620 --> 00:40:22,200 And he has every right to demand that 715 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:25,620 we give offerings to him. 716 00:40:27,740 --> 00:40:30,120 But that is not the way God works. 717 00:40:30,940 --> 00:40:33,980 Because if he did in that way he 718 00:40:33,980 --> 00:40:35,820 will never have his house. 719 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:39,040 So with a house in you. 720 00:40:39,400 --> 00:40:42,980 You find that even with a redeemed people. 721 00:40:43,740 --> 00:40:48,260 God never deal with us in a legalistic 722 00:40:48,260 --> 00:40:48,760 way. 723 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:54,460 God always deal with us in love. 724 00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:57,840 So God said now you are redeemed. 725 00:40:57,840 --> 00:40:59,500 I have brought you out. 726 00:41:00,740 --> 00:41:02,000 Out of slavery. 727 00:41:02,780 --> 00:41:04,080 You are a free people. 728 00:41:05,140 --> 00:41:09,280 Now out of your free will you give. 729 00:41:10,260 --> 00:41:11,240 For what purpose? 730 00:41:13,540 --> 00:41:16,740 That you may make me a sanctuary. 731 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:19,900 A house. 732 00:41:21,380 --> 00:41:22,240 A tabernacle. 733 00:41:23,020 --> 00:41:26,220 That I may dwell among you. 734 00:41:26,220 --> 00:41:28,280 So brothers and sisters. 735 00:41:28,900 --> 00:41:31,380 The purpose of redemption. 736 00:41:33,980 --> 00:41:38,200 Is God's dwelling with his people. 737 00:41:38,740 --> 00:41:39,540 That is the purpose. 738 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:43,480 Do not think that God deliver. 739 00:41:44,000 --> 00:41:44,820 Well let us think. 740 00:41:45,260 --> 00:41:47,520 The children of Israel you know they were 741 00:41:47,520 --> 00:41:49,740 slaves for so long. 742 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:53,060 And suddenly they got their freedom. 743 00:41:54,140 --> 00:41:55,540 Now they are free. 744 00:41:57,240 --> 00:41:58,240 What do you think? 745 00:41:59,180 --> 00:42:01,480 Well they think now we can do what 746 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:02,980 we could not do in the past. 747 00:42:04,240 --> 00:42:06,240 Now we can have our house desire. 748 00:42:06,980 --> 00:42:08,620 Now we can live our own life. 749 00:42:09,580 --> 00:42:10,920 Formerly we were slaves. 750 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:11,980 We have no life. 751 00:42:12,720 --> 00:42:14,300 We could not do what we want to 752 00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:14,500 do. 753 00:42:15,020 --> 00:42:16,600 We could not have what we want to 754 00:42:16,600 --> 00:42:16,840 have. 755 00:42:17,160 --> 00:42:18,280 Now we are free. 756 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:20,560 And not only we are free when we 757 00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:21,080 got out. 758 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:25,500 We actually took everything out of Egypt. 759 00:42:26,540 --> 00:42:29,260 We deprived Egypt of all its wealth. 760 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:33,120 And now we have all this gold and 761 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:34,200 silver and everything. 762 00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:37,200 Oh what a life we can live now 763 00:42:37,200 --> 00:42:38,460 for ourselves. 764 00:42:39,860 --> 00:42:42,540 Now suppose the children of Israel were thinking 765 00:42:42,540 --> 00:42:43,320 in that way. 766 00:42:47,100 --> 00:42:48,500 Now God says wait a minute. 767 00:42:49,350 --> 00:42:53,060 That is not the purpose of my delivering 768 00:42:53,060 --> 00:42:53,400 you. 769 00:42:54,260 --> 00:42:59,020 The reason why I deliver you out of 770 00:42:59,020 --> 00:43:03,240 slavery is that I want to dwell among 771 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:03,560 you. 772 00:43:04,460 --> 00:43:08,200 I want to be with you. 773 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:10,920 That is my purpose. 774 00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:16,040 Brothers and sisters isn't that true with us 775 00:43:16,040 --> 00:43:16,380 today? 776 00:43:17,380 --> 00:43:20,100 We who are bought with a price. 777 00:43:24,810 --> 00:43:30,790 The Lord never demanded that we should give 778 00:43:30,790 --> 00:43:34,010 ourselves to him as a living sacrifice. 779 00:43:34,990 --> 00:43:36,730 The Lord said it has to be a 780 00:43:36,730 --> 00:43:37,290 heave offering. 781 00:43:38,530 --> 00:43:40,030 It has to be a love offering. 782 00:43:40,970 --> 00:43:45,690 Therefore brethren by the mercies of God I 783 00:43:45,690 --> 00:43:46,590 beseech you. 784 00:43:46,590 --> 00:43:50,670 To present your bodies a living sacrifice. 785 00:43:51,130 --> 00:43:51,890 Holy. 786 00:43:52,710 --> 00:43:54,210 Acceptable to God. 787 00:43:54,830 --> 00:43:57,390 It is your reasonable service. 788 00:43:57,910 --> 00:43:59,510 Or your spiritual. 789 00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:04,880 So God said give me a heave offering. 790 00:44:05,680 --> 00:44:06,120 Why? 791 00:44:06,840 --> 00:44:09,300 Why do we need to present our bodies 792 00:44:09,300 --> 00:44:10,480 a living sacrifice? 793 00:44:11,760 --> 00:44:15,420 It is because God wants to dwell among 794 00:44:15,420 --> 00:44:15,820 us. 795 00:44:15,820 --> 00:44:19,520 He wants to use what we have offered 796 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:23,420 to build a sanctuary. 797 00:44:29,290 --> 00:44:30,290 A holy place. 798 00:44:31,890 --> 00:44:32,710 For himself. 799 00:44:33,630 --> 00:44:35,830 And also for us. 800 00:44:36,250 --> 00:44:37,250 That is the purpose. 801 00:44:38,650 --> 00:44:42,890 You know when God gave that pattern to 802 00:44:42,890 --> 00:44:43,350 Moses. 803 00:44:44,350 --> 00:44:50,370 On the one hand you find it is 804 00:44:50,370 --> 00:44:55,470 as if God said you cannot approach me. 805 00:44:56,410 --> 00:44:58,710 I am holy. 806 00:44:59,910 --> 00:45:01,710 You are unclean. 807 00:45:02,510 --> 00:45:03,650 You are unholy. 808 00:45:04,250 --> 00:45:05,030 You are sinful. 809 00:45:06,510 --> 00:45:08,930 Even though you are redeemed you are still 810 00:45:08,930 --> 00:45:10,490 defiled. 811 00:45:11,390 --> 00:45:13,090 You cannot approach me. 812 00:45:13,090 --> 00:45:18,330 Therefore you find the approach to God is 813 00:45:18,330 --> 00:45:19,550 quite elaborate. 814 00:45:20,390 --> 00:45:21,770 It is not simple. 815 00:45:23,190 --> 00:45:26,510 You have to go through the brazen altar. 816 00:45:27,450 --> 00:45:31,630 You have to go through the laver for 817 00:45:31,630 --> 00:45:32,010 washing. 818 00:45:32,650 --> 00:45:35,050 You have to go through the holy place. 819 00:45:36,270 --> 00:45:37,910 The candlestick. 820 00:45:38,910 --> 00:45:40,110 The shewbread. 821 00:45:40,110 --> 00:45:42,410 The altar of incense. 822 00:45:43,650 --> 00:45:45,590 And there is a veil there. 823 00:45:46,450 --> 00:45:47,510 No one can enter. 824 00:45:48,670 --> 00:45:50,410 Only the high priest. 825 00:45:51,210 --> 00:45:54,630 Once a year with blood and smoke can 826 00:45:54,630 --> 00:45:57,370 just go in to make atonement and quickly 827 00:45:57,370 --> 00:45:57,890 withdraw. 828 00:45:58,730 --> 00:46:01,590 In other words the way to the holiest 829 00:46:01,590 --> 00:46:02,930 was not open. 830 00:46:03,590 --> 00:46:06,210 So brothers and sisters when you read the 831 00:46:06,210 --> 00:46:10,570 tabernacle you get the impression that God is 832 00:46:10,570 --> 00:46:11,710 so holy. 833 00:46:12,290 --> 00:46:14,670 And we, who are we? 834 00:46:15,230 --> 00:46:17,550 That we can draw near to him. 835 00:46:19,340 --> 00:46:20,020 We cannot. 836 00:46:21,040 --> 00:46:22,060 It is difficult. 837 00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:23,240 Very difficult. 838 00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:27,060 And yet on the other hand you find 839 00:46:27,060 --> 00:46:30,000 that God gives the tabernacle to man. 840 00:46:30,280 --> 00:46:30,540 Why? 841 00:46:30,540 --> 00:46:38,380 Because it shows God's longing for communication. 842 00:46:39,540 --> 00:46:43,040 God's longing for fellowship. 843 00:46:45,740 --> 00:46:48,680 You get a very mixed feeling in your 844 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:49,000 heart. 845 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:52,560 And brothers and sisters, isn't that true? 846 00:46:55,970 --> 00:46:59,370 God longs to communicate with people. 847 00:47:00,370 --> 00:47:04,770 You know, in the tabernacle, in the holiest 848 00:47:04,770 --> 00:47:06,670 of hell is that ark. 849 00:47:08,430 --> 00:47:10,250 And in the ark is the testimony. 850 00:47:11,450 --> 00:47:15,090 And on the cover of the ark is 851 00:47:15,090 --> 00:47:15,910 the mercy seat. 852 00:47:16,950 --> 00:47:20,470 And God said, I will speak to you 853 00:47:20,470 --> 00:47:22,750 between the cherubim. 854 00:47:23,050 --> 00:47:24,950 On the mercy seat. 855 00:47:25,690 --> 00:47:29,030 All that I will command to you. 856 00:47:29,670 --> 00:47:31,190 I will speak to you. 857 00:47:31,590 --> 00:47:34,390 And not only that, this is our meeting 858 00:47:34,390 --> 00:47:34,890 place. 859 00:47:35,570 --> 00:47:36,970 You will meet with me. 860 00:47:37,670 --> 00:47:39,930 And you will speak. 861 00:47:43,490 --> 00:47:47,090 Dear brothers and sisters, what is the house 862 00:47:47,090 --> 00:47:47,610 of God? 863 00:47:48,750 --> 00:47:52,110 The house of God is a place of 864 00:47:52,110 --> 00:47:52,990 communication. 865 00:47:54,810 --> 00:47:59,930 You know, if you have a house, and 866 00:47:59,930 --> 00:48:07,780 I'm thinking more, less of the physical building, 867 00:48:08,220 --> 00:48:11,520 the more of the people in the house. 868 00:48:12,160 --> 00:48:12,560 A home. 869 00:48:13,380 --> 00:48:14,460 Now, what is a home? 870 00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:17,860 A home is more than just you have 871 00:48:17,860 --> 00:48:22,280 a building of brick, or of wood, or 872 00:48:22,280 --> 00:48:24,280 even of mud and scrub. 873 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:26,300 So you have a house. 874 00:48:27,100 --> 00:48:27,360 No. 875 00:48:29,820 --> 00:48:30,640 You have a home. 876 00:48:30,980 --> 00:48:31,160 No. 877 00:48:32,120 --> 00:48:36,180 A home is those who are in that 878 00:48:36,180 --> 00:48:40,800 house are communicating one with another. 879 00:48:41,480 --> 00:48:42,880 That makes it a home. 880 00:48:46,030 --> 00:48:47,830 If there is no communication. 881 00:48:48,890 --> 00:48:52,890 Suppose you have a family of four people, 882 00:48:53,070 --> 00:48:56,870 or maybe eight people, and yet you find 883 00:48:56,870 --> 00:48:58,090 there is no communication. 884 00:48:59,070 --> 00:49:01,730 There is no communication between the father and 885 00:49:01,730 --> 00:49:04,290 the mother, no communication between the parents and 886 00:49:04,290 --> 00:49:10,190 the children, no communication between the brothers and 887 00:49:10,190 --> 00:49:10,710 the sisters. 888 00:49:10,970 --> 00:49:12,350 There is no communication. 889 00:49:13,230 --> 00:49:15,190 They are all living there in that house. 890 00:49:15,850 --> 00:49:17,770 But, no speaking. 891 00:49:18,370 --> 00:49:23,650 Everybody is quiet, silent, glad at each other. 892 00:49:24,550 --> 00:49:26,990 And, do you call this a house? 893 00:49:27,610 --> 00:49:28,610 Do you call this a home? 894 00:49:29,010 --> 00:49:29,970 No communication. 895 00:49:33,880 --> 00:49:35,160 What is the tabernacle? 896 00:49:35,900 --> 00:49:39,080 The tabernacle is a meeting place. 897 00:49:40,200 --> 00:49:42,780 Where God and man meet. 898 00:49:43,960 --> 00:49:48,780 That God may speak to man, and man 899 00:49:48,780 --> 00:49:50,140 may speak. 900 00:49:52,960 --> 00:49:54,660 That is the house. 901 00:49:57,060 --> 00:49:59,640 Of course, in the Old Testament time you 902 00:49:59,640 --> 00:50:03,640 will find it is very difficult. 903 00:50:04,440 --> 00:50:05,440 Very difficult. 904 00:50:08,570 --> 00:50:12,490 You have the altar court, the holy place, 905 00:50:13,290 --> 00:50:16,410 the veil, and then the holiest of all. 906 00:50:17,270 --> 00:50:19,090 Now we know, of course, that the ark 907 00:50:19,090 --> 00:50:20,710 is a type of Christ. 908 00:50:24,320 --> 00:50:29,140 And the law of God, God's testimony, can 909 00:50:29,140 --> 00:50:31,200 only be kept in Christ. 910 00:50:32,080 --> 00:50:34,000 You remember when the law was given? 911 00:50:35,000 --> 00:50:36,920 And the children of Israel said, Oh, that 912 00:50:36,920 --> 00:50:38,680 God has said we will do it. 913 00:50:41,210 --> 00:50:43,190 We do not even need to hear directly 914 00:50:43,190 --> 00:50:43,810 from God. 915 00:50:45,250 --> 00:50:46,990 It is good enough for us to hear 916 00:50:46,990 --> 00:50:50,090 just indirectly, and we will keep everything that 917 00:50:50,090 --> 00:50:50,790 God has said. 918 00:50:50,790 --> 00:50:55,330 But before the two tables of stone reached 919 00:50:55,330 --> 00:50:57,190 them, they broke the law already. 920 00:50:57,890 --> 00:51:00,250 In other words, nobody can keep the law. 921 00:51:01,170 --> 00:51:04,590 But the law is kept only in Christ 922 00:51:04,590 --> 00:51:04,990 Jesus. 923 00:51:05,750 --> 00:51:08,430 He is the end of all laws. 924 00:51:09,710 --> 00:51:14,190 But then God, He not only kept the 925 00:51:14,190 --> 00:51:17,530 laws of God, but you find it is 926 00:51:17,530 --> 00:51:19,410 covered with the mercy seat. 927 00:51:19,410 --> 00:51:22,750 In other words, on the basis of righteousness. 928 00:51:24,230 --> 00:51:27,450 He has fulfilled all righteousness. 929 00:51:28,530 --> 00:51:32,330 And on the basis of that, God in 930 00:51:32,330 --> 00:51:35,330 Christ can show mercy to us. 931 00:51:36,230 --> 00:51:38,810 Now brothers and sisters, today we are in 932 00:51:38,810 --> 00:51:41,990 such a better position. 933 00:51:42,450 --> 00:51:42,790 Why? 934 00:51:42,950 --> 00:51:44,770 Because Christ has already come. 935 00:51:45,830 --> 00:51:47,510 He is our mercy seat. 936 00:51:48,950 --> 00:51:52,150 The wall is broken, is rent. 937 00:51:52,970 --> 00:51:55,230 There is nothing standing between. 938 00:51:56,170 --> 00:52:00,950 So here you find our communication, our communion, 939 00:52:01,510 --> 00:52:05,130 our fellowship with God can be uninterrupted. 940 00:52:06,090 --> 00:52:07,890 This is our position today. 941 00:52:08,970 --> 00:52:15,290 In Christ Jesus, we can have uninterrupted communion 942 00:52:15,290 --> 00:52:16,850 with God. 943 00:52:16,850 --> 00:52:19,570 And God is able to speak to us. 944 00:52:20,150 --> 00:52:22,490 And we are able to speak to God. 945 00:52:22,730 --> 00:52:26,930 There is communication between God and us. 946 00:52:27,290 --> 00:52:30,390 And that makes the house of God. 947 00:52:33,440 --> 00:52:35,780 In the book of Hebrews chapter 3. 948 00:52:49,110 --> 00:52:55,180 In Hebrews chapter 3, verse 5. 949 00:52:55,180 --> 00:52:58,240 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his 950 00:52:58,240 --> 00:53:01,620 house, as a ministering servant, for a testimony 951 00:53:01,620 --> 00:53:03,920 of the things to be spoken after. 952 00:53:05,020 --> 00:53:09,660 But Christ, as son over his house, whose 953 00:53:09,660 --> 00:53:13,160 house are we, if indeed we hold fast 954 00:53:13,160 --> 00:53:16,280 the boldness and the boast of hope firm 955 00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:17,100 to the end. 956 00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:20,680 So here you find that we are his 957 00:53:20,680 --> 00:53:21,080 house. 958 00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:26,520 If indeed we hold fast the boldness and 959 00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:29,520 the boast of hope firm to the end. 960 00:53:29,860 --> 00:53:30,580 Now verse 7. 961 00:53:30,740 --> 00:53:34,560 Immediately you find, wherefore even as says the 962 00:53:34,560 --> 00:53:37,940 Holy Spirit, today if you will hear his 963 00:53:37,940 --> 00:53:41,800 voice, harden not your hearts. 964 00:53:44,220 --> 00:53:46,900 Are we the house of God? 965 00:53:49,800 --> 00:53:50,880 We are. 966 00:53:52,740 --> 00:53:53,900 If we hear him. 967 00:53:57,710 --> 00:54:01,750 Our God is a God who speaks. 968 00:54:04,640 --> 00:54:07,380 Not only he has spoken in the past 969 00:54:07,380 --> 00:54:12,300 to our fathers, through the prophets, in many 970 00:54:12,300 --> 00:54:17,440 ways and in many forms. 971 00:54:18,600 --> 00:54:21,520 But in the last days he has spoken 972 00:54:21,520 --> 00:54:23,020 to us in his son. 973 00:54:24,140 --> 00:54:27,920 So dear brothers and sisters, we find that 974 00:54:27,920 --> 00:54:35,790 there is a voice coming out from the 975 00:54:35,790 --> 00:54:38,470 mercy seat incessantly. 976 00:54:41,620 --> 00:54:46,060 God is speaking in his son, continuously to 977 00:54:46,060 --> 00:54:46,460 us. 978 00:54:48,420 --> 00:54:49,220 But do we hear? 979 00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:56,240 We say we are the house of God. 980 00:54:57,280 --> 00:54:58,800 But do we hear his voice? 981 00:55:01,820 --> 00:55:02,560 Individually? 982 00:55:04,480 --> 00:55:06,100 Are we hearing him? 983 00:55:06,100 --> 00:55:15,700 We are a day past without 984 00:55:15,700 --> 00:55:18,780 hearing a word from him? 985 00:55:19,660 --> 00:55:20,760 Is it possible? 986 00:55:23,180 --> 00:55:23,980 Is it normal? 987 00:55:30,810 --> 00:55:34,270 Or if we have heard, do we harden 988 00:55:34,270 --> 00:55:34,930 our hearts? 989 00:55:36,190 --> 00:55:37,230 We do not obey. 990 00:55:41,940 --> 00:55:50,850 Brothers and sisters, I am thinking today, we 991 00:55:50,850 --> 00:55:58,450 are almost like the time of Eli, the 992 00:55:58,450 --> 00:55:58,810 judge. 993 00:55:59,850 --> 00:56:02,530 Because you remember in 1 Samuel you said 994 00:56:02,530 --> 00:56:07,210 during the time of Eli, the judge, the 995 00:56:07,210 --> 00:56:12,230 priesthood, the word of God was rare. 996 00:56:13,430 --> 00:56:16,750 And the vision was infrequent. 997 00:56:19,280 --> 00:56:21,400 Is that the normal condition? 998 00:56:24,580 --> 00:56:26,820 Of God's relationship with his people? 999 00:56:27,900 --> 00:56:29,100 His redeemed people? 1000 00:56:31,260 --> 00:56:34,040 God cannot speak to the rare today. 1001 00:56:34,620 --> 00:56:37,460 Because the women listen. 1002 00:56:38,680 --> 00:56:42,280 Even if God speaks, they say offenders. 1003 00:56:43,660 --> 00:56:44,920 They do not understand. 1004 00:56:45,880 --> 00:56:47,140 They cannot hear the voice. 1005 00:56:48,480 --> 00:56:53,680 But the church today, as the Israelites of 1006 00:56:53,680 --> 00:56:56,740 old, we are the redeemed of the Lord. 1007 00:56:58,520 --> 00:57:01,960 And here you will find God's words are 1008 00:57:01,960 --> 00:57:03,320 rare, were rare. 1009 00:57:04,800 --> 00:57:06,320 God rarely spoke. 1010 00:57:11,970 --> 00:57:15,010 And he rarely appeared to his people. 1011 00:57:15,850 --> 00:57:17,010 Very infrequent. 1012 00:57:20,750 --> 00:57:25,250 Can that represent the house of God? 1013 00:57:31,020 --> 00:57:34,200 Do we hear the voice of our Lord 1014 00:57:34,200 --> 00:57:35,560 every day? 1015 00:57:40,130 --> 00:57:43,670 He that has ears, let him hear what 1016 00:57:43,670 --> 00:57:46,430 the Spirit says to the churches. 1017 00:57:47,390 --> 00:57:49,350 For the churches are not listening. 1018 00:57:52,330 --> 00:57:55,710 Our condition has forced God into silence. 1019 00:57:56,750 --> 00:58:04,900 Even worse, you will find that after Malachi, 1020 00:58:05,580 --> 00:58:10,640 the last prophet, for 400 years, God was 1021 00:58:10,640 --> 00:58:11,140 silent. 1022 00:58:12,520 --> 00:58:13,400 He couldn't speak. 1023 00:58:14,760 --> 00:58:16,220 How saddened his heart. 1024 00:58:16,780 --> 00:58:22,520 Think if you are parents, and for one 1025 00:58:22,520 --> 00:58:27,490 day you are forced to be kept quiet. 1026 00:58:28,350 --> 00:58:30,430 You cannot say anything to your children. 1027 00:58:31,830 --> 00:58:34,130 Because if you say something, probably there will 1028 00:58:34,130 --> 00:58:34,870 be an uproar. 1029 00:58:37,050 --> 00:58:37,930 Another rebellion. 1030 00:58:39,450 --> 00:58:40,210 Think of that. 1031 00:58:41,690 --> 00:58:43,890 Can you call that a home? 1032 00:58:45,810 --> 00:58:47,530 But this is what is happening today. 1033 00:58:50,440 --> 00:58:51,480 We are not listening. 1034 00:58:53,280 --> 00:58:54,980 We harden our hearts. 1035 00:58:56,920 --> 00:58:59,360 Dear brothers and sisters, how we need to 1036 00:58:59,360 --> 00:58:59,900 repent. 1037 00:58:59,900 --> 00:59:03,240 And really be before the Lord. 1038 00:59:05,720 --> 00:59:07,740 Pray that the Lord will give us a 1039 00:59:07,740 --> 00:59:08,560 hearing heart. 1040 00:59:09,420 --> 00:59:11,880 That we may hear him every day. 1041 00:59:12,580 --> 00:59:14,020 You know, he will speak to us. 1042 00:59:14,180 --> 00:59:16,480 I'm not thinking of audible voices. 1043 00:59:17,540 --> 00:59:18,640 Sometimes God does. 1044 00:59:20,300 --> 00:59:23,520 But more so, he will speak through his 1045 00:59:23,520 --> 00:59:23,940 Spirit. 1046 00:59:24,540 --> 00:59:26,660 Who dwells in our spirit. 1047 00:59:27,780 --> 00:59:29,940 The reason why we do not hear him 1048 00:59:29,940 --> 00:59:33,840 is because we are so far away from 1049 00:59:33,840 --> 00:59:34,100 him. 1050 00:59:37,510 --> 00:59:39,950 We are occupied with so many things. 1051 00:59:41,150 --> 00:59:42,590 We hear so many voices. 1052 00:59:44,250 --> 00:59:45,870 That we cannot hear him. 1053 00:59:47,290 --> 00:59:49,810 Or we need to have a tender heart. 1054 00:59:53,840 --> 00:59:56,800 A heart that is turned towards him. 1055 00:59:57,480 --> 00:59:59,880 And I do believe that if our hearts 1056 00:59:59,880 --> 01:00:04,300 are turned towards him, you cannot fail to 1057 01:00:04,300 --> 01:00:05,260 hear him speak. 1058 01:00:05,260 --> 01:00:09,350 He loves to talk with you. 1059 01:00:09,490 --> 01:00:12,370 He loves to communicate what is in his 1060 01:00:12,370 --> 01:00:13,250 heart to you. 1061 01:00:14,570 --> 01:00:16,110 You know, he is shut up to himself. 1062 01:00:19,200 --> 01:00:21,620 He loves to share his burden with you. 1063 01:00:22,320 --> 01:00:25,000 He loves to share what is in his 1064 01:00:25,000 --> 01:00:26,460 heart with you. 1065 01:00:26,740 --> 01:00:30,040 But where are the people who are ready 1066 01:00:30,040 --> 01:00:32,240 to receive his burden? 1067 01:00:36,550 --> 01:00:37,550 We are not interested. 1068 01:00:39,530 --> 01:00:43,660 And brothers and sisters, more than that, he 1069 01:00:43,660 --> 01:00:47,340 wants us to communicate with him. 1070 01:00:47,460 --> 01:00:49,460 He wants us to draw near to him. 1071 01:00:50,860 --> 01:00:54,420 Not because we are worthy of our own 1072 01:00:54,420 --> 01:00:54,900 righteousness. 1073 01:00:55,240 --> 01:00:55,700 No, never. 1074 01:00:56,540 --> 01:00:59,480 It is because Christ is our righteousness. 1075 01:01:00,860 --> 01:01:04,420 And through our Lord Jesus, we have ready 1076 01:01:04,420 --> 01:01:06,260 access to him. 1077 01:01:06,680 --> 01:01:08,620 And he wants us to go to him. 1078 01:01:09,280 --> 01:01:10,420 To talk to him. 1079 01:01:10,900 --> 01:01:12,060 To converse with him. 1080 01:01:12,340 --> 01:01:12,980 Communicate. 1081 01:01:12,980 --> 01:01:16,380 Tell him everything that is in your heart. 1082 01:01:18,280 --> 01:01:19,960 Pour yourself out to him. 1083 01:01:20,860 --> 01:01:24,200 You know, brothers and sisters, today we find 1084 01:01:24,200 --> 01:01:29,000 people are very lonely because they have no 1085 01:01:29,000 --> 01:01:29,840 one to talk to. 1086 01:01:32,150 --> 01:01:36,990 But here is your Heavenly Father always waiting 1087 01:01:40,390 --> 01:01:48,780 with patience, love, sympathy to hear what you 1088 01:01:48,780 --> 01:01:49,840 want to say to him. 1089 01:01:50,560 --> 01:01:51,860 And why don't you do it? 1090 01:01:52,800 --> 01:01:55,760 This makes it the house of God. 1091 01:01:57,060 --> 01:01:58,700 Individually, this is so. 1092 01:01:59,300 --> 01:02:01,180 Corporately, it is so. 1093 01:02:02,120 --> 01:02:06,740 The church should hear the voice of the 1094 01:02:06,740 --> 01:02:07,320 Spirit. 1095 01:02:08,780 --> 01:02:14,140 When the church does not hear what the 1096 01:02:14,140 --> 01:02:18,040 Spirit of God is saying, something is very 1097 01:02:18,040 --> 01:02:18,440 wrong. 1098 01:02:22,330 --> 01:02:25,310 And the church ought to be a place 1099 01:02:25,310 --> 01:02:28,990 where you can bring everything. 1100 01:02:31,470 --> 01:02:34,070 So this is the second meaning of the 1101 01:02:34,070 --> 01:02:35,430 house of God. 1102 01:02:35,970 --> 01:02:38,770 Now, of course, together with that, I should 1103 01:02:38,770 --> 01:02:42,070 mention also that the tabernacle is a place 1104 01:02:42,070 --> 01:02:45,050 of service and worship. 1105 01:02:46,510 --> 01:02:53,350 Out of communication comes service and worship. 1106 01:02:54,530 --> 01:02:57,830 You know, you cannot worship if you do 1107 01:02:57,830 --> 01:02:58,430 not know. 1108 01:02:59,910 --> 01:03:03,870 The more we know God, the more we 1109 01:03:03,870 --> 01:03:06,910 know his heart, the more we know his 1110 01:03:06,910 --> 01:03:10,050 purpose, the more we know what he has 1111 01:03:10,050 --> 01:03:14,090 done, the more he gives you worship. 1112 01:03:15,150 --> 01:03:17,930 Otherwise, worship is empty. 1113 01:03:19,050 --> 01:03:22,890 See, oftentimes I feel that when we are 1114 01:03:22,890 --> 01:03:27,570 praising God or worshiping God, oftentimes I feel 1115 01:03:27,570 --> 01:03:32,590 these are words, beautiful words, many words, but 1116 01:03:32,590 --> 01:03:33,890 where is the substance? 1117 01:03:40,640 --> 01:03:42,060 We do not know him. 1118 01:03:43,280 --> 01:03:45,560 We do not know his work. 1119 01:03:46,580 --> 01:03:48,380 And that is the reason why our worship 1120 01:03:48,380 --> 01:03:49,120 is so weak. 1121 01:03:53,820 --> 01:03:58,120 Worship is based on communion, on communication. 1122 01:03:59,520 --> 01:04:02,520 And the more we know of him, the 1123 01:04:02,520 --> 01:04:08,340 more he draws from you that worship. 1124 01:04:09,380 --> 01:04:11,420 You find that he is worthy. 1125 01:04:12,460 --> 01:04:15,760 You can place him in the place where 1126 01:04:15,760 --> 01:04:16,720 he ought to be. 1127 01:04:17,620 --> 01:04:22,620 And also you realize what your place is. 1128 01:04:23,440 --> 01:04:24,420 That's worship. 1129 01:04:25,320 --> 01:04:28,800 And of course, service actually comes out of 1130 01:04:28,800 --> 01:04:29,120 worship. 1131 01:04:31,800 --> 01:04:33,720 Service leads back to worship. 1132 01:04:34,460 --> 01:04:36,500 But service comes out of worship. 1133 01:04:37,620 --> 01:04:42,140 You know, if you try to serve and 1134 01:04:42,140 --> 01:04:45,780 yet there is not, it doesn't come out 1135 01:04:45,780 --> 01:04:49,600 of worship, it is not spiritual ministry. 1136 01:04:50,540 --> 01:04:53,800 Spiritual ministry begins with God. 1137 01:04:54,360 --> 01:04:58,000 And it has to come out of worship. 1138 01:04:58,820 --> 01:05:02,800 And if there is worship, there cannot but 1139 01:05:02,800 --> 01:05:05,060 be spiritual service. 1140 01:05:06,780 --> 01:05:09,540 You cannot be just a worshiper and not 1141 01:05:09,540 --> 01:05:10,040 a server. 1142 01:05:11,320 --> 01:05:13,460 You know, we cannot divide these two things. 1143 01:05:14,920 --> 01:05:16,600 These two things go together. 1144 01:05:17,260 --> 01:05:21,360 So, the meaning of the house is communication 1145 01:05:21,360 --> 01:05:25,080 and worship with service. 1146 01:05:26,600 --> 01:05:28,540 Now let's go on to the third. 1147 01:05:30,080 --> 01:05:33,780 And of course, the third thing on the 1148 01:05:33,780 --> 01:05:35,100 house of God is David. 1149 01:05:38,960 --> 01:05:41,400 Our time is almost up, so I have 1150 01:05:41,400 --> 01:05:42,040 to rush on. 1151 01:05:43,700 --> 01:05:46,520 I believe our brother will speak on these 1152 01:05:46,520 --> 01:05:47,100 things more. 1153 01:05:47,680 --> 01:05:49,300 Anyway, you find a David. 1154 01:05:54,970 --> 01:06:00,150 After God gave David the kingdom, and he 1155 01:06:00,150 --> 01:06:03,830 dwelt in his palace. 1156 01:06:06,870 --> 01:06:10,870 In 1 Chronicles chapter 17, you find David 1157 01:06:10,870 --> 01:06:17,350 say to Nathan, he said, I live in 1158 01:06:17,350 --> 01:06:21,150 this house of Seder, and yet the ark 1159 01:06:21,150 --> 01:06:23,430 of God still lives in a tent. 1160 01:06:25,480 --> 01:06:26,300 That is not right. 1161 01:06:27,940 --> 01:06:31,100 So Nathan said, you can do whatever is 1162 01:06:31,100 --> 01:06:31,720 in your heart. 1163 01:06:32,820 --> 01:06:34,860 But immediately the word of God came to 1164 01:06:34,860 --> 01:06:36,880 Nathan, and said, you go back and tell 1165 01:06:36,880 --> 01:06:37,380 David. 1166 01:06:38,220 --> 01:06:40,620 And brothers and sisters, you go back and 1167 01:06:40,620 --> 01:06:42,660 read 1 Chronicles 17. 1168 01:06:42,660 --> 01:06:44,140 As you read it, you will weep. 1169 01:06:48,840 --> 01:06:56,000 Because when David had the desire to build 1170 01:06:57,260 --> 01:07:01,160 a house for God, you know the whole 1171 01:07:01,160 --> 01:07:03,720 idea is the idea of rest. 1172 01:07:05,260 --> 01:07:06,740 What is the house of God? 1173 01:07:07,280 --> 01:07:10,000 The house of God is a place that 1174 01:07:10,000 --> 01:07:10,920 God rests. 1175 01:07:13,640 --> 01:07:18,320 Now David rested in his palace. 1176 01:07:18,320 --> 01:07:21,700 It was God who gave him rest. 1177 01:07:22,600 --> 01:07:25,680 You know David, he lived a very restless 1178 01:07:25,680 --> 01:07:26,200 life. 1179 01:07:27,600 --> 01:07:29,100 He was a wanderer. 1180 01:07:29,260 --> 01:07:30,160 He was a fugitive. 1181 01:07:31,120 --> 01:07:32,020 He was hunted. 1182 01:07:33,120 --> 01:07:35,860 He had to flee hidden caves. 1183 01:07:37,300 --> 01:07:38,500 He had many enemies. 1184 01:07:38,940 --> 01:07:40,360 He had to fight many battles. 1185 01:07:41,240 --> 01:07:43,260 He had a very restless life. 1186 01:07:44,560 --> 01:07:50,940 But God in his grace gave David rest. 1187 01:07:51,960 --> 01:07:56,600 Finally you find God build David his house. 1188 01:07:57,540 --> 01:08:01,820 He had his kingdom, his throne, his palace. 1189 01:08:02,440 --> 01:08:03,920 He was rested. 1190 01:08:05,080 --> 01:08:11,810 And when David was given rest, he became 1191 01:08:11,810 --> 01:08:13,990 restless for God. 1192 01:08:15,069 --> 01:08:17,930 Finally he was restless because of himself. 1193 01:08:18,609 --> 01:08:20,870 And now you find he has got his 1194 01:08:20,870 --> 01:08:21,310 rest. 1195 01:08:22,029 --> 01:08:25,370 So he began to become restless for God. 1196 01:08:25,770 --> 01:08:29,430 He was thinking of God's rest. 1197 01:08:32,080 --> 01:08:35,420 And that very thought touched God's heart very 1198 01:08:35,420 --> 01:08:35,899 deeply. 1199 01:08:38,520 --> 01:08:42,840 God said to David through Nathan, He said, 1200 01:08:44,060 --> 01:08:47,880 Since I have delivered the children of Israel 1201 01:08:47,880 --> 01:08:51,979 out of Egypt, I have wandered with them 1202 01:08:53,680 --> 01:08:58,020 from tent to tent, from tabernacle to tabernacle. 1203 01:08:59,100 --> 01:09:03,100 And even after I have planted them in 1204 01:09:03,100 --> 01:09:06,899 the land I promised, have I ever asked 1205 01:09:06,899 --> 01:09:10,279 anyone to give me, to build me a 1206 01:09:10,279 --> 01:09:11,500 house to live? 1207 01:09:12,100 --> 01:09:13,680 I haven't asked for it. 1208 01:09:16,819 --> 01:09:21,680 And yet you are the only one who 1209 01:09:21,680 --> 01:09:22,979 wants to do it for me. 1210 01:09:24,560 --> 01:09:26,180 It touched God's heart. 1211 01:09:28,220 --> 01:09:39,520 You see, God, can we say that in 1212 01:09:39,520 --> 01:09:46,740 the whole history of mankind, from Adam and 1213 01:09:46,740 --> 01:09:53,840 Eve, after they sinned, burned out of Eden, 1214 01:09:55,960 --> 01:10:01,560 not only man became wanderers, but God lost 1215 01:10:01,560 --> 01:10:02,320 his rest. 1216 01:10:04,660 --> 01:10:08,620 Can a father rest if his son or 1217 01:10:08,620 --> 01:10:14,060 daughter are away as particles? 1218 01:10:15,380 --> 01:10:16,580 No rest. 1219 01:10:18,690 --> 01:10:20,110 So God has no rest. 1220 01:10:21,790 --> 01:10:26,370 And his role, he is looking for a 1221 01:10:26,370 --> 01:10:27,850 place of rest. 1222 01:10:28,730 --> 01:10:31,630 He is looking to rest among man. 1223 01:10:33,030 --> 01:10:35,190 But man did not give him rest. 1224 01:10:36,010 --> 01:10:37,790 Man gave him lots of trouble. 1225 01:10:43,710 --> 01:10:47,430 Only when Christ came into this world, in 1226 01:10:47,430 --> 01:10:49,950 Christ, doth find his rest. 1227 01:10:50,470 --> 01:10:54,690 This is my beloved son, in whom I 1228 01:10:54,690 --> 01:10:55,470 am well pleased. 1229 01:10:57,670 --> 01:11:00,050 For what God desires is not just one 1230 01:11:00,050 --> 01:11:00,450 man. 1231 01:11:01,410 --> 01:11:03,210 He wants a new mankind. 1232 01:11:03,970 --> 01:11:09,180 He wants a new mankind that will give 1233 01:11:09,180 --> 01:11:09,800 him rest. 1234 01:11:11,140 --> 01:11:14,460 That he can rest among his people, among 1235 01:11:14,460 --> 01:11:15,080 his own people. 1236 01:11:17,780 --> 01:11:20,700 Now brothers and sisters, this is the meaning 1237 01:11:20,700 --> 01:11:21,980 of the house of God. 1238 01:11:24,740 --> 01:11:29,330 But in a very real sense, we will 1239 01:11:29,330 --> 01:11:33,470 never give our God rest until he first 1240 01:11:33,470 --> 01:11:34,630 gives us rest. 1241 01:11:35,150 --> 01:11:35,970 That's very true. 1242 01:11:40,290 --> 01:11:45,290 But when we are given his rest, you 1243 01:11:45,290 --> 01:11:48,090 know in Hebrews chapter 4 you'll find there 1244 01:11:48,090 --> 01:11:52,050 is a sabbatism, there is a rest prepared 1245 01:11:52,050 --> 01:11:52,850 for us. 1246 01:11:53,930 --> 01:11:56,910 Enter into his rest. 1247 01:11:57,430 --> 01:11:59,650 We need to enter into his rest. 1248 01:11:59,850 --> 01:12:00,050 Why? 1249 01:12:00,170 --> 01:12:01,670 Because everything is done. 1250 01:12:02,330 --> 01:12:04,450 Christ has done everything for us. 1251 01:12:04,870 --> 01:12:07,170 On the cross he said, it is finished. 1252 01:12:07,910 --> 01:12:09,050 Everything is done. 1253 01:12:09,670 --> 01:12:13,230 Brothers and sisters, we can rest in Christ 1254 01:12:13,230 --> 01:12:13,710 Jesus. 1255 01:12:14,870 --> 01:12:17,610 And if we do rest in Christ Jesus, 1256 01:12:20,780 --> 01:12:24,260 then it is time for us to get 1257 01:12:24,260 --> 01:12:25,480 restless for God. 1258 01:12:31,360 --> 01:12:32,960 Let us give God rest. 1259 01:12:42,240 --> 01:12:47,120 He can rest when we really trust him. 1260 01:12:49,920 --> 01:12:52,000 When we really obey him. 1261 01:12:58,220 --> 01:13:02,680 Brothers and sisters, our Lord Jesus, he learned 1262 01:13:02,680 --> 01:13:06,480 obedience through the things which he has suffered. 1263 01:13:08,840 --> 01:13:12,160 And God finds rest in that man. 1264 01:13:13,080 --> 01:13:14,920 The same thing is true. 1265 01:13:16,320 --> 01:13:19,460 God can only rest in us if we 1266 01:13:19,460 --> 01:13:20,340 obey him. 1267 01:13:26,390 --> 01:13:30,090 Obedience is better than sacrifice. 1268 01:13:30,930 --> 01:13:31,970 Just remember this. 1269 01:13:34,140 --> 01:13:34,960 How I foreplay. 1270 01:13:36,220 --> 01:13:37,240 You find Solomon. 1271 01:13:37,860 --> 01:13:40,460 Eventually, Solomon built a house. 1272 01:13:42,740 --> 01:13:49,700 Now when Solomon dedicated that temple, in 2 1273 01:13:49,700 --> 01:13:53,840 Chronicles chapter 6, you find Solomon. 1274 01:13:55,500 --> 01:14:01,760 He said, will God indeed dwell in this 1275 01:14:01,760 --> 01:14:03,200 house that I built? 1276 01:14:07,640 --> 01:14:09,160 God is too great for that. 1277 01:14:11,060 --> 01:14:13,680 But it is a place where God will 1278 01:14:13,680 --> 01:14:15,060 put his name there. 1279 01:14:17,620 --> 01:14:22,620 And it is a place where people can 1280 01:14:22,620 --> 01:14:24,560 come and pray. 1281 01:14:25,340 --> 01:14:29,080 Because his eyes is upon that house. 1282 01:14:29,600 --> 01:14:32,280 And his ears is upon that house. 1283 01:14:32,640 --> 01:14:33,980 And he will hear. 1284 01:14:34,660 --> 01:14:35,700 And he will forgive. 1285 01:14:36,840 --> 01:14:38,740 So what is the meaning of the house 1286 01:14:38,740 --> 01:14:39,180 of God? 1287 01:14:39,900 --> 01:14:41,860 The meaning of the house of God is 1288 01:14:41,860 --> 01:14:45,020 where God puts his name. 1289 01:14:47,380 --> 01:14:50,220 He puts his name in his house. 1290 01:14:53,280 --> 01:14:57,900 Where two or three are gathered together unto 1291 01:14:57,900 --> 01:15:02,240 my name, there am I in the midst 1292 01:15:02,240 --> 01:15:03,380 of them. 1293 01:15:03,940 --> 01:15:05,940 That is the house of God. 1294 01:15:07,340 --> 01:15:13,160 The brothers and sisters, unfortunately, when God put 1295 01:15:13,160 --> 01:15:20,500 his name upon that temple, the children of 1296 01:15:20,500 --> 01:15:25,220 Israel misrepresented that name completely. 1297 01:15:26,420 --> 01:15:28,280 They disgraced that name. 1298 01:15:28,280 --> 01:15:32,600 So eventually the temple has to be destroyed. 1299 01:15:36,830 --> 01:15:37,850 What about the church? 1300 01:15:39,630 --> 01:15:44,010 The Lord said, I commit my name to 1301 01:15:44,010 --> 01:15:44,590 the church. 1302 01:15:47,700 --> 01:15:50,720 He commits himself a name. 1303 01:15:51,660 --> 01:15:53,300 To put a name there is a commitment. 1304 01:15:54,080 --> 01:15:58,160 You will find that he commits himself to 1305 01:15:58,160 --> 01:15:58,720 the church. 1306 01:16:01,910 --> 01:16:04,270 And when he commits himself to the church, 1307 01:16:08,990 --> 01:16:09,930 how do we react? 1308 01:16:09,930 --> 01:16:15,380 Do we really honor that name? 1309 01:16:16,540 --> 01:16:17,740 Uphold that name? 1310 01:16:18,020 --> 01:16:18,900 Exalt that name? 1311 01:16:20,240 --> 01:16:23,500 In other words, put ourselves under that name, 1312 01:16:23,880 --> 01:16:25,040 under his authority? 1313 01:16:26,660 --> 01:16:29,340 Let Christ be the head of the church. 1314 01:16:29,940 --> 01:16:34,840 Let Christ be the Lord of each of 1315 01:16:34,840 --> 01:16:35,560 our lives. 1316 01:16:36,240 --> 01:16:37,940 Do we honor his name? 1317 01:16:38,820 --> 01:16:41,320 Or do we bring disgrace to his name? 1318 01:16:45,150 --> 01:16:47,610 The name is given to the church. 1319 01:16:48,930 --> 01:16:52,970 But whether it is under reproach or whether 1320 01:16:52,970 --> 01:16:57,290 it is in praise, it depends on us. 1321 01:16:59,610 --> 01:17:01,450 And it is a place that we can 1322 01:17:01,450 --> 01:17:01,850 pray. 1323 01:17:05,610 --> 01:17:06,350 You know, prayer. 1324 01:17:07,090 --> 01:17:09,710 You remember our Lord in John chapter 16 1325 01:17:09,710 --> 01:17:15,870 said, Hereafter I give you my name. 1326 01:17:16,150 --> 01:17:19,570 You can pray to the Father and whatever 1327 01:17:19,570 --> 01:17:22,630 you pray, it shall be done unto you. 1328 01:17:23,570 --> 01:17:28,330 Brothers and sisters, when we use that name 1329 01:17:28,330 --> 01:17:30,430 and pray, what does it mean? 1330 01:17:30,910 --> 01:17:33,030 Does it mean that we pray in his 1331 01:17:33,030 --> 01:17:36,010 name for our own interest? 1332 01:17:37,130 --> 01:17:37,430 No. 1333 01:17:38,030 --> 01:17:40,890 We pray in his name for his will 1334 01:17:40,890 --> 01:17:44,110 to be done on earth as it is 1335 01:17:44,110 --> 01:17:44,590 in heaven. 1336 01:17:46,380 --> 01:17:49,180 So this is the meaning of the house 1337 01:17:49,180 --> 01:17:49,700 of God. 1338 01:17:50,340 --> 01:17:51,940 Name and prayer. 1339 01:17:52,780 --> 01:17:56,720 And finally, you remember when the children of 1340 01:17:56,720 --> 01:18:02,080 Israel came back from Babylonian captivity in Ezra. 1341 01:18:02,200 --> 01:18:02,920 Book of Ezra. 1342 01:18:07,900 --> 01:18:10,080 They lived in Babylon for 70 years. 1343 01:18:11,180 --> 01:18:12,660 They have built their houses. 1344 01:18:13,560 --> 01:18:15,140 They have built up their businesses. 1345 01:18:16,440 --> 01:18:18,260 They live a very comfortable life. 1346 01:18:19,100 --> 01:18:21,940 And they were given much freedom even though 1347 01:18:21,940 --> 01:18:22,740 they were slaves. 1348 01:18:24,220 --> 01:18:26,480 They could worship God. 1349 01:18:27,380 --> 01:18:34,600 They developed that ingenious religious system of synagogue 1350 01:18:35,720 --> 01:18:39,240 that enabled them to worship God even much 1351 01:18:39,240 --> 01:18:42,840 more convenient than a temple. 1352 01:18:44,020 --> 01:18:45,620 But the temple was destroyed. 1353 01:18:46,780 --> 01:18:47,480 You know. 1354 01:18:48,780 --> 01:18:53,180 But suddenly you find they were free to 1355 01:18:53,180 --> 01:18:56,180 go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the house 1356 01:18:56,180 --> 01:18:56,620 of God. 1357 01:18:57,420 --> 01:19:01,940 In other words, you find the only reason 1358 01:19:02,480 --> 01:19:08,060 given to return to Jerusalem is to build 1359 01:19:08,060 --> 01:19:09,140 God's house. 1360 01:19:10,020 --> 01:19:13,680 To restore God's name upon this earth. 1361 01:19:15,910 --> 01:19:18,150 That he may have a dwelling place. 1362 01:19:18,150 --> 01:19:19,650 That is the only reason. 1363 01:19:23,250 --> 01:19:29,750 Most of the Israelites remain in the land 1364 01:19:29,750 --> 01:19:30,430 of captivity. 1365 01:19:31,470 --> 01:19:32,930 They did not bother to go back. 1366 01:19:34,230 --> 01:19:34,550 Why? 1367 01:19:34,670 --> 01:19:38,090 Because if they return they will come to 1368 01:19:38,090 --> 01:19:42,830 a ruined city surrounded by enemies. 1369 01:19:44,370 --> 01:19:46,250 And they return for only one reason. 1370 01:19:46,650 --> 01:19:47,590 To build God's house. 1371 01:19:47,590 --> 01:19:51,670 Now is God's house so important to their 1372 01:19:51,670 --> 01:19:52,090 lives? 1373 01:19:57,940 --> 01:20:00,740 So most people think it's not that important. 1374 01:20:02,660 --> 01:20:04,960 Our house is all the more important. 1375 01:20:05,860 --> 01:20:08,320 Our welfare is all the more important. 1376 01:20:08,620 --> 01:20:10,920 So they stay in the land of captivity. 1377 01:20:11,580 --> 01:20:13,820 Not ideal, but they stay. 1378 01:20:15,080 --> 01:20:20,040 But only a remnant whose spirit was stirred. 1379 01:20:20,040 --> 01:20:23,560 In other words, you'll find they return to 1380 01:20:23,560 --> 01:20:29,680 build a house totally out of love. 1381 01:20:30,540 --> 01:20:31,580 There's no other reason. 1382 01:20:32,840 --> 01:20:34,740 Because they love God. 1383 01:20:35,340 --> 01:20:36,680 They love his name. 1384 01:20:37,280 --> 01:20:38,340 That's the only reason. 1385 01:20:39,020 --> 01:20:43,500 They are willing to forsake everything. 1386 01:20:44,720 --> 01:20:51,760 Their comfort, their businesses, their houses, their enterprises, 1387 01:20:54,260 --> 01:20:55,500 their comforts. 1388 01:20:55,640 --> 01:20:59,380 They are willing to give up everything to 1389 01:20:59,380 --> 01:21:02,100 go back to Jerusalem for God's sake. 1390 01:21:02,840 --> 01:21:05,540 To build a house for God. 1391 01:21:05,780 --> 01:21:08,880 That God's name may be upon this earth. 1392 01:21:09,540 --> 01:21:11,760 Brothers and sisters, that's love. 1393 01:21:13,830 --> 01:21:15,590 What is the house of God? 1394 01:21:16,130 --> 01:21:18,150 The house of God is a house of 1395 01:21:18,150 --> 01:21:18,470 love. 1396 01:21:19,330 --> 01:21:20,670 God is love. 1397 01:21:23,060 --> 01:21:28,700 And if there is love, there is God's 1398 01:21:28,700 --> 01:21:29,020 house. 1399 01:21:32,050 --> 01:21:33,810 In the second letter to the seven churches 1400 01:21:33,810 --> 01:21:38,430 you'll find the letter to the church in 1401 01:21:38,430 --> 01:21:39,190 Ephesus. 1402 01:21:40,410 --> 01:21:42,670 You have all of the good things there. 1403 01:21:43,250 --> 01:21:45,950 But you have your first love. 1404 01:21:46,810 --> 01:21:47,850 God said, repent. 1405 01:21:48,550 --> 01:21:51,510 If you do not repent, I will remove 1406 01:21:51,510 --> 01:21:53,150 your lampstand. 1407 01:21:56,950 --> 01:21:58,890 Lampstand stands for the church. 1408 01:22:01,080 --> 01:22:02,040 In the sight of God. 1409 01:22:02,680 --> 01:22:05,400 When that is removed, it means the testimony 1410 01:22:06,040 --> 01:22:07,100 is removed. 1411 01:22:07,880 --> 01:22:10,500 So brothers and sisters, what is the house 1412 01:22:10,500 --> 01:22:10,980 of God? 1413 01:22:11,540 --> 01:22:13,160 The house of God is a house of 1414 01:22:13,160 --> 01:22:13,580 love. 1415 01:22:16,000 --> 01:22:19,940 Only when we continue in our first love 1416 01:22:19,940 --> 01:22:24,680 with him is the house of God a 1417 01:22:24,680 --> 01:22:25,200 reality. 1418 01:22:26,400 --> 01:22:31,800 Whenever our love towards him we gets cold. 1419 01:22:33,140 --> 01:22:33,660 Repent. 1420 01:22:35,820 --> 01:22:39,660 So remember, the house of God is not 1421 01:22:39,660 --> 01:22:40,720 just a concept. 1422 01:22:42,260 --> 01:22:46,180 Something for us to speculate and talk about. 1423 01:22:46,820 --> 01:22:49,120 The house of God is very real. 1424 01:22:49,940 --> 01:22:50,980 Very real. 1425 01:22:50,980 --> 01:22:54,540 And it ought to bring lots of convictions 1426 01:22:54,540 --> 01:22:55,280 to us. 1427 01:22:56,300 --> 01:22:58,540 It ought to bring us to our knees. 1428 01:22:59,840 --> 01:23:00,820 To repentance. 1429 01:23:02,360 --> 01:23:07,260 It ought to bring us into renewed consecration 1430 01:23:07,260 --> 01:23:09,320 and commitment to him. 1431 01:23:10,340 --> 01:23:14,380 And finally, remember, it is God's house. 1432 01:23:15,400 --> 01:23:18,140 In other words, it has to satisfy. 1433 01:23:19,830 --> 01:23:24,310 You are satisfied, but is he satisfied? 1434 01:23:25,450 --> 01:23:26,230 Shall we pray? 1435 01:23:32,680 --> 01:23:37,140 Dear Heavenly Father, we do praise and thank 1436 01:23:37,140 --> 01:23:40,800 thee that thou shalt so honor us as 1437 01:23:40,800 --> 01:23:46,840 to even show us thy heart, thy desire, 1438 01:23:47,440 --> 01:23:48,020 thy longing. 1439 01:23:49,020 --> 01:23:51,500 We do praise and thank thee that thou 1440 01:23:51,500 --> 01:23:55,220 hast been so gracious to us in delivering 1441 01:23:55,220 --> 01:23:57,920 us out of the world. 1442 01:23:58,400 --> 01:24:02,260 To bring us to thyself that thou mayst 1443 01:24:02,260 --> 01:24:08,570 be able to build us into thy house. 1444 01:24:09,670 --> 01:24:12,930 That thou wantest to rest in us, to 1445 01:24:12,930 --> 01:24:16,430 be loved, to be worshipped, to be honored, 1446 01:24:17,430 --> 01:24:23,380 to be fellowshiped, to be in union. 1447 01:24:24,600 --> 01:24:26,160 Oh Lord, it's too much. 1448 01:24:28,420 --> 01:24:32,460 We just cannot comprehend. 1449 01:24:33,460 --> 01:24:35,380 We do ask thee Lord that thou will 1450 01:24:35,380 --> 01:24:41,020 continue to open our understanding and draw us 1451 01:24:41,020 --> 01:24:46,480 into that reality and reveal to us how 1452 01:24:46,480 --> 01:24:47,960 unfit we are. 1453 01:24:49,560 --> 01:24:54,740 Lord, give us a holy discontent that we 1454 01:24:54,740 --> 01:25:02,340 may really repent and return to thee. 1455 01:25:05,220 --> 01:25:07,960 We want thee to have that house. 1456 01:25:08,680 --> 01:25:10,580 Oh Lord, how we praise and thank thee 1457 01:25:11,220 --> 01:25:15,020 that one day thou will have it. 1458 01:25:15,520 --> 01:25:16,180 We know it. 1459 01:25:16,580 --> 01:25:17,640 It's already there. 1460 01:25:18,920 --> 01:25:20,260 We ask in thy precious name.