Sermon Central
-
House - Part 8 - House Calls Series
Contributed by Steve Ely on Jan 21, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Is God’s house a building? Does His house have rules, systems, or structure? How can we be His house unless we know?
House
“House Calls”
I. Introduction
Over the last month and half or so we have been talking about how to guarantee a move of God. Such a guarantee only comes when we build the house God’s way. God is not obligated to move into what He has not designed. When we follow His blueprint and construct His House His way He moves in! (His House – we have learned that he has a big, big house with lots and lots of room. . . LOL).
So we have said that we have to learn House Rules – authority – the authority of God’s Word, our conscience, and delegated authority.
We must operate by House Manners – regard, respect, resolve, and restore.
We must furnish His House learn to rest, commune, trust Him again and bath ourselves daily in the light of His Word.
It is absolutely essential that we get off the Parade of Homes circuit and find our assigned place. Because it is in that assigned place that we are safe and blessed.
And then last week I declared that this is the time to build His house in spite of what the housing market report says. We must make sure that we consider the condition of His house rather than putting all of our attention on us! When we get our priorities right we will see glory, provision and peace.
Today, I want to wrap this series up by switching tracks a little. We have been talking about how to get God in the house. Today, I want us to look at what happens once He is here. What will we see happen and what should we expect when He makes a house call here?
TEXT: Mark 2:1-5; 5:38-42, Luke 10:38-42
1And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
38When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." 40But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" ). 42Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
If we are serious about constructing a house that God will live in one of the thing that we must consider is what will happen when He moves in. We have to prepare for that. We need to know going in that certain things will happen!
In all three of the accounts that I read to you Jesus makes a house call! We have to decide whether or not we can handle the results of His presence.
II. The Visits
a. He fills the house.
In the first account that I read to you the house is filled. When God moves in space moves out. If you need your space you might not want God to move in! If you need personal space go to a church where God hasn’t shown up in years. God will fill this house. In all of our efforts to fill up the house we will fail. No gimmick, no program (oh, if we could just do this people would swarm); no slick advertising will fill this house! We will utilize programs and advertising, but the only thing that will fill this house with people, power and presence is Jesus! Our talents, our reputation, our nothing will fill the house! Jesus alone fills the house!
