Rsbc
Sept 1st 2002
Sunday Morning
Subject: " The House of GOD"
Text: I Timothy 3:14-15
Intro: In the word of GOD there is 87 references to the house of GOD, 81 of those times is found in the O.T. and there is 6 references in the N.T. and three of those 6 times that it appears in the N.T. is a reference to the O.T. That leaves only three time in the N.T. that the Bible speaks of the house of GOD.
One is our text verse... Paul says in Hebrews 10:21 "And having a high priest over the house of GOD.. Then Peter mentions the only other time the house of GOD is found in the N.T.
1 Peter 4:17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?
The first reference that we have of the house of GOD is when Jacob had a vision and the LORD spoke to him in that vision and when he woke up out of his sleep these are the words that he recorded and said:
Genesis 28:17-19 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful [is] this place! this [is] none other but the house of God, and this [is] the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put [for] his pillows, and set it up [for] a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.
Beth.. Comes from a root word which means house... El meaning GOD so therefore meaning the house of GOD...the reason being GOD meet there. You must keep in mind that I am not talking about a building even though this place is designated as the meeting house of GOD.
It was the house of GOD that the children of Israel went to and ask counsel of GOD concerning the battles they were to fight... Judges 20-18: It was the house of GOD that the children of Israel went into and : listen to what it says
Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
I.... " OUR CONDUCT IN THE HOUSE OF GOD"
I have often said that most Baptist do not know nor do they consider that when we began our worship service that this is not a play house, this is the house of GOD
a.. How do we behave ourselves, or what is meant by behaving ourselves in the house of GOD: I shall give you three things to think upon.
1st. We should behave ourselves quietly..
2nd. We should behave ourselves attentively..
3rd. We should behave ourselves seriously ..
B. Why should we behave ourselves?
1st. We need to behave ourselves because it is his house:
Note the text says it is the "house of GOD" To get you to think more definitely about this house of GOD I will show you why it is the house of GOD...
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
2nd. We need to behave ourselves in the house of GOD because this is where we meet with Chirst our Lord."
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
There is such benefit when the LORD meets with his church. I shall try to show a few of them:
a. The benefit of the encouragement of his presence:
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Page # 3
These men were encouraged after the death of Christ by him appearing unto them that day in the closed room where they were. Nothing like having the presence of the LORD with us... At times he is with us strongly and other times he is not as strong...
B. The benefit of his message:
We gather here week after week that we might hear what the LORD has said to us through his word. I know you can read it at home, but it is not the same as when we gather in this meeting house... we are the house of GOD never forget that.
C. The benefit of the gospel preached to sinners in this place:
The gospel will drive you to Christ to cry out what must I do to be saved, or it will harden you and drive you away from Christ... two examples of this is found in the book of acts...
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.
If you are lost here this morning how is the gospel affecting you? What thoughts go through your heart when the gospel reveals that you are a sinner and that you need a saviour?
II... " THE PURPOSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD IS CLEARLY STATED IN OUR TEXT:
The house of GOD is the pillar and the ground of the truth. No other institution on the earth will protect, dispense, and render proper diligence to the truth like the church of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
1st. This speaks of foundation...
I must remind all of us here today that Christ annouced to the world these wonderful words that have echoed through nearly 2000 years...Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Christ is not only the head of the Church but he is the chief cornerstone of it and it will never fall...never falter, never give up never quit..
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
2nd. The truth is the living vital part of the church and if we have it not we loose our identity...
Jacob of old said concerning truth these words: Genesis 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
There is so much that I could say about the truth but I want to close this message this morning with some applications to the message if I have time:
1. Take your membership serious in the house of GOD.
2. Remember that this is not a fraternal organization.
3. That we must be faithful to our Lord’s house.
4. Glean from the great benefits that we have here at RSBC
5. Sinners repent of your sins and call upon the LORD to have mercy on you.