Unless The Lord builds the House

Introduction:

All throughout history churches have been building structures from grand cathedrals and basilicas to worship centers and little country churches. All for the purpose of worship and honor to our God, and many to promote the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. To bring hope to the hopeless and rest for the weary soul. To be a guiding light that shines in the darkness making clear the path to the Lord. Or as our mission statement says, “To produce Jesus followers of faith that expand God’s Kingdom.”

I remember my church planting training when I had to articulate why, in a sea of churches, do we need another church in the Dallas, GA area. I understand much better today the answer to that questions than I did back then. “Ministry Runs on the Rails of Relationships.” The congregation of a church reflects the relationships they build and maintain and different church form different relationships with different spheres of influence.

But the real work, the real life changing power of any church doesn’t exists in the members alone, but through the power and workings of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people. If we are going to be successful in ministry, it will not be because we build the biggest, most extravagant building in town, but because the Lord is moving in this place. If the Lord is not going before us and the Spirit is not moving on the hearts of people then our labor is in vain.

King Solomon was privileged to build the greatest temple man had ever seen for the Lord, but he understood where the power comes from.

Psalm 127:1–2 ESV

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

The Foundation of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 3:9–11 ESV

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Notice how the temple of God changes from a building to a people. We are God’s building and temple.

Jesus is the solid Rock for the foundation

What you build on that foundation matters.

1 Corinthians 3:12–13 ESV

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

Gold: The deity of Christ

Silver: The righteousness of Christ

Precious Stones: The Body of Christ

The wood, hay, and stubble are the things that don’t last into eternity. (If I were to preach another message we would talk about how much of our lives is just kindling for the fire.)

Once you lay the foundation of Christ and build a structure with the right materials, the house becomes a house of prayer.

A House of Prayer

A House of salvation

Isaiah 56:3 ESV

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

Isaiah 56:5 ESV

I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

A House of restoration and joy

Isaiah 56:6–7 ESV

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

A House for all peoples

Isaiah 56:7 ESV

these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

A place of acceptance and forgiveness for all people.

The only time Jesus showed aggression toward the temple was when they turned it into something besides a house of prayer.

Mark 11:15–17 ESV

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

The Lord is building for Himself a house on this land for all peoples. He has sanctified it and set it apart for His glory and his ministry. We are not the first ones to have this opportunity. Years ago this land was offered to a church to build a house for the lord but they turned it down. But the dreams, imaginations, and will of God doesn’t change. He just finds people willing to join him in accomplishing the work.

If you need a place to be accepted by the Lord, a place of refuge and strength, a place of forgiveness and love, a place of restoration and healing, a place of power and vision, then come to this house of prayer. The door is always open.

As we join with the other churches and ministries of the area, may we become another source of light that shines in the darkness. A beacon of God’s love.