DWELLING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD Acts 7:47-49

Intro: God is not an absentee landlord! He doesn’t save us and then leave us here to do the best we can! Where Is God? (Illust…Two Mean Boys…They Think We Have Done Something With Him)

To be able to practice His presence, you must first know where He is. Allow me to share with you this truth: God has made and used different houses. How each one fits into God’s plan will help us to be able to experience the joy of His awesome presence.

I. GOD’S PRIMARY HOUSE

A. The Design -The first place God chose to dwell was in Adam.

Adam was a three-part house.Adam was Gods primary design.

1-The body allows access to the physical world.

2-The soul allows access to the emotional world.

3-The Spirit allows access to the spiritual world. The spirit is what separates man from the animals. It makes us unique because the spirit can be indwelled by God and that is how we WORSHIP God.

B. The Desecration - Gen. 3. When Adam sinned, he died

not physically, but spiritually! Adams sin defiled the house and God moved out! God will not abide in a dirty house.

C. The Desolation - After Adam sinned, God moved out, Adam’s house became desolate. The fact of his death became evident - He was separated from God! He began to suffer under the curse. Literally, the house was left desolate!

E. The Destruction -Adam died physically as well - Gen. 5:5.

II. GODS PATTERN HOUSE-- The Temple. It served as a visible pattern for mankind, so men could see the type dwelling God would use.

A.     The Design - This house was made of three rooms. The Outer Court, the Inner Court and the Innermost Court. In its design, it corresponds to each of us.

1-The Outer Court -The place of sacrifice - Rom. 12:1-2

2-The Inner Court - The human soul - The place of gathering and hearing of the Word.

3-The Innermost Court - The place where the priest met with God - The place of worship and personal communion with God.

B. The Desecration - Through idolatry and sin Israel desecrated and

     defiled the Temple. Therefore, God moved out! Matt. 21:13.

C. The Desolation-Matt. 23:38 - The people still carried out all the ancient rituals, but God was gone! Many churches are in the same situation right now. All the ritual, none of the glory! -1 Sam. 4:21

D. The Destruction-Mt. 24:1-2-The Temple was destroyed 70 AD

III. GODS PERFECT HOUSE--(Ill. Jesus was Gods perfect house!)

A.     The Design - John 1:1; 14

1-Jesus called His own body a Temple - John 2:19.

2-His House was indwelled by the Spirit - Matt. 3:16-17.

B. The Desecration - This Temple was desecrated as no other has ever been.

1-All the sins of humanity were placed on Him-Isa.53:6

2-The creature was literally able to desecrate the perfect Temple of the Creator!

C. The Desolation - When Christ became sin on Calvary, He was abandoned by the Father - Rom. 8:32; Matt. 27:46. The darling Son of God became the object of the Fathers loathing and God judged the Son in our place. Jesus was left desolate, He died alone!

D. The Destruction - Like the first Adam, the second Adam, Jesus, was  destroyed. Isa. 53:10. Jesus died to take away the penalty of our sins. That perfect house, like all the previous ones was destroyed!

IV. GODS PERMANENT HOUSE---Here is where the pattern changes, God has stopped moving! He has taken up residence in a permanent dwelling. That dwelling is you!

A. The Design - John 14:16 - The believer has been reconstructed and made a fit dwelling for Almighty God. The Christian is literally a living, breathing Temple of Almighty God!

B. The Desecration - This house cannot be desecrated! When you trust Christ, ALL sin is removed - Past, Present and Future! Sin is no longer credited to us! Rather, we enjoy imputed righteousness - Rom. 4:22-24!

C. The Desolation - This house can never be left desolate! God cannot depart! 2 Tim. 2:13. The true believer is Gods house and will be forever! Eternally saved and eternally sealed - Eph. 4:30!

D. The Destruction - This house can never be destroyed. God has promised us eternal life through Jesus Christ - John 10:28. This doesn’t mean that He won’t clean house-Rev. 3:19. But, when He does, He won’t move out!

Conclusion: David said in Psalms 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER…AND BE BLESSED